• La Liga

Laporta expects Guardiola to return in 2013

ESPN staff
December 29, 2012
Pep Guardiola has enjoyed his sabbatical © Getty Images
Enlarge

Pep Guardiola will return to coaching in 2013 after his year-long sabbatical from football, according to former Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Guardiola departed Barcelona at the end of last season to have a break from football after four seasons at the helm of the Catalan giants.

The Spaniard has been linked with a number of major European clubs since he left Barcelona, including the big spending Paris Saint-Germain, although Laporta believes the French club would not suit Guardiola's style.

"I think Pep will return as coach next year. He has a great personality, very clear ideas and he is very intelligent," he told Swedish outlet Expressen. "I have the honour of having good relations with him and, for me, he is the best coach in the world.

"All the big clubs would have Guardiola as coach. What would it take to convince him? He likes to create. There will be many reasons influencing his choice, he would analyse them all. I think he wants to have the power to decide on all sporting matters and must be comfortable working there.

"Paris? It is not obvious how they would convince Guardiola to coach there. I do not know if Paris Saint-Germain have the adequate structure for him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices