Pep Guardiola tried to raid former club Barcelona in 2016 during his first summer as Manchester City boss but his advances failed to bear fruit
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has revealed Pep Guardiola once flew to Catalonia to try and sign the Germany international shot-stopper. Following his appointment at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016, the 54-year-old Spanish tactician brutally decided to axe Joe Hart in one of his first acts as Manchester City boss. Guardiola wanted a goalkeeper that was capable of playing out from the back with his feet and he viewed Ter Stegen as his ideal transfer target. However, Barca head coach Luis Enrique blocked the deal and City instead swooped to sign Ter Stegen's team-mate Claudio Bravo for a reported £17million fee.
Ter Stegen has now shed light on the ordeal, telling German newspaper Bild : “It was actually the case that we considered changing clubs. It was a moment when I wasn’t satisfied with the situation at Barca because even though we had won many titles, I hadn’t played in the league. I wanted to be the clear number one.
“We even had a meeting in Barcelona. Pep flew here, and then we met at a friend’s apartment. He explained his ideas to me and that he would be at Manchester City starting in the summer and would like to have me. Pep really tried hard.
“Then I thought about it and told myself that this could be the solution to my problem and that the plan they have at City sounds very interesting. Looking at the last few years, it’s worked out perfectly. At some point I went to Luis Enrique and told him I wanted his permission. And he replied: ‘I won’t release you under any circumstances!’ He also said he would tell the club they shouldn’t let me go under any circumstances.
“I replied that on the one hand I really appreciated it, but on the other hand I wanted to be number one. When he then said we should see how the pre-season goes, I almost lost my temper, but I managed to control myself.
“I just said: Listen, that’s my wish now, and I’ll go to the board and just wanted to let you know. The board also said they wouldn’t release me under any circumstances. Three weeks later, Pep brought my teammate Claudio Bravo to Man City. It was strange at first, but in the end I’m very, very happy.”
Ter Stegen has since won a staggering 16 trophies at Camp Nou, however, his season was cut short in September when he suffered a serious knee injury. Wojciech Szczesny has since come out of retirement to provide cover for Barca, signing as a free agent.
Speaking in October 2016 ahead of a Champions League clash with Barcelona, Guardiola admitted he had been interested in signing Ter Stegen, though he denied consulting Lionel Messi about a move to the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola said during a press conference: "If you are talking about this summer, I never called Messi. I never called Neymar, Luis Suarez, (Sergio) Busquets, (Andres) Iniesta, I didn't call anybody.
"As for Ter Stegen, I knew that he wanted to play all the time. We got in touch. He wasn't happy with his situation. We needed a goalkeeper like Claudio or Ter Stegen. Claudio came and Ter Stegen decided to stay. If I ever called a player playing in any other club it would be in a special situation of not playing, and it would be my right to – but I never called Leo Messi."