RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola would leap at the chance to coach Brazil, who sacked Mano Menezes this week, Lance sports daily reported yesterday.
“The Brazilian national side is the only team he would be ready to coach tomorrow” if given the chance, an unnamed Guardiola confidant told Lance group founder and chairman Walter de Mattos jr, who penned the article linking the former Barca boss with the post.
Guardiola insists he will see out his sabbatical in the United States after leaving the Nou Camp last summer.
But the source said he would do a good job with the five-time world champions, who are now on the lookout for a successor to Menezes, fired on Friday barely 18 months away from Brazil’s hosting of the next World Cup.
“If he coaches the Selecao, they will win the World Cup - you tell that to the chairman of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF),” the insider said.
The CBF says it will unveil a successor to Menezes, who failed to deliver the Olympic title at the London Games last summer when Brazil fell to Mexico in the final.
Guardiola’s agent Josep Maria Orobitg told Lance there had been no contact between the Brazilians and his client.
“I have had no call for contact whatsoever from the CBF. I speak regularly to Pep and he has not given me any instructions to negotiate with anyone for a possible contract,” Orobitg said.
afp
