Pep Guardiola reveals he was once rejected by Newcastle | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has revealed that he wanted to play for Newcastle, but was turned down by then manager Bobby Robson.

Robson had coached Pep during his time at Barcelona in the mid-90s, and when the veteran English tactician returned to his boyhood club in 1999, the cultured midfielder wrote a letter to his old boss asking for a chance to play in the Premier League.

“I am going to explain something secret,” Guardiola revealed in a new film about Robson.

“After the purge in Barcelona, he went to Newcastle and I sent him a letter to offer me the chance to go to him and play at Newcastle. One of my dreams would have been to have played in England.

“He answered me and said it was not possible because he had a lot of ­quality and he was right, but, even in that tough moment, he was always so kind.

“He wrote a simple letter and it was like it meant so much more. Bobby is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life.”

Robson first match in charge of Newcastle in September 1999 included a midfield of Kieron Dyer, Gary Speed, Nolberto Solano and Robert Lee.

We can’t believe there wasn’t any space for Guardiola in there somewhere.