The former Albiceleste trainer, who guided the nation to World Cup glory in 1978, claims that the Bayern Munich boss would have jumped ship to take over the team this summer
Pep Guardiola wants to be reunited with Lionel Messi by taking the Argentina job, according to World Cup-winning coach Cesar Luis Menotti.
Guardiola’s tenure as Barcelona boss coincided with Messi’s ascent to being one of the best players in the world and the pair won every trophy possible during the trainer’s four-year stint at Camp Nou.
Menotti, who coached the Albiceleste to World Cup glory in 1978, claims that the current Bayern Munich boss would have taken charge of Messi and Co. if the job had been offered to him this summer.
“I think he would have come,” the coaching great said in his column for DPA. “He told me that he would like the Argentina job.”
Instead of Guardiola taking charge of this summer’s World Cup runners up, however, Gerardo Martino was hired as Alejandro Sabella’s successor as Argentina’s head coach and Menotti is not overly pleased with the selection.
“To me, what concerns me is that those in charge [of the Argentina football association] do not care what style of football he will play,” he added.
Martino filled Guardiola’s boots after the late Tito Vilanova – who was initially chosen to take over at Barca – fell ill during his opening season in charge.
He will now attempt to lead Argentina to Copa America glory for the first time since 1993 in next summer’s tournament.