Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is encouraging Marcelo Gallardo to join him in the Premier League with Leeds United and Southampton keen on the former River Plate boss, according to Goal.
Guardiola has already made his feelings clear on the 47-year-old Argentine. According to the one-time Barcelona boss, Gallardo would be regarded as one of the finest coaches in modern football if he made his name this side of the Atlantic; the remarkable job he did at River Plate going unfairly under the radar.
“What Gallardo has done with River is incredible,” Guardiola once told TNT Sports.
“Some things are inexplicable. Every year, three coaches are named as the best in the world (by FIFA). He’s never among them. I can’t understand it. It’s as if there’s nothing else in the world apart from Europe.”
After spending eight exhausting years at River Plate – winning 14 trophies along the way – Gallardo may finally be about to show a wider audience what all the fuss is about. He is learning English, Ole say, ahead of a potential move to the Premier League.
Gallardo had little interest in taking over at Leeds or Southampton following the sackings of Jesse Marsch and Nathan Jones recently. But, after his sabbatical comes to an end, the one-time Monaco and PSG playmaker will give consideration to variety of offers. Clubs on both sides of the ocean are queuing up to hire one of the game’s most underrated tacticians.
Leeds United and Southampton like former River Plate manager Marcelo Gallardo
Gallardo, Goal say, recently held a meeting with Guardiola; the Man City boss encouraging his fellow Spanish-speaker to choose a Premier League job over a variety of alternative posts.
And Guardiola is not the only one at the Etihad who thinks highly of a man who, according to The Telegraph, is seen by some at Leeds United as the natural heir to Marcelo Bielsa. Javi Gracia is currently in situ at Elland Road. His contract, however, expires at the end of this campaign.
“Marcelo helped me a lot,” says Julian Alvarez; the World Cup winner who joined Man City from River Plate last summer.
“I arrived when I was 18 years old from (a spell at) Real Madrid. (Gallardo) helped me a lot both as a player and as a person. He doesn’t just give football advice.”
“Yes, obviously Gallardo is ready to lead in Europe. He proved that in all the years he was at River. I don’t know what will cross his mind. But it would be a nice challenge and we all want to see that.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
