The Spaniard was first on the Blues wishlist before Mourinho returned.
There is a slap in the face for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as it emerges that Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola was first choice ahead of the Portuguese coach.
The Barcelona legend was approached by the Blues and a colossal £21m contract was tabled to try and tempt the Spaniard.
Guardiola allegedly refused a €25m offer from Chelsea before signing with Bayern Munich.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) December 19, 2013
However, Guardiola rejected the deal and instead agreed to head to Germany and take charge of Bayern – taking a year’s leave in New York between times.
This proposal to the 42-year-old would have presumably been at the end of the 2011/12 season, when the west London club had just won the Champions League under interim Roberto Di Matteo.
In the end the Italian was given the position permanently, only to then be sacked months afterwards and replaced with another temp in Rafael Benitez.
This news will still not be welcomed by Mourinho, as although Guardiola was not a direct competitor to the job with the 50-year-old, the duo’s rivalry will make this development an unsavoury one for the former Real Madrid coach.
As it is the club have been steady upon the boss’ return after a six year period away from Stamford Bridge, whilst it’s been a similar story at Bayern.
The German champions top the Bundesliga once again under Guardiola’s guidance and it’s this form that makes many fans in England wish for the supremo to come to the Premier League at some point.
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