Wenger, Fergie exit: Guardiola at Arsenal, Mourinho at Man Utd

Pep guardiola and Jose Mourinho (Reuters)

Published Tuesday, October 16, 2012

By Staff

They had one of the greatest footballing rivalries in club football – Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola at Barcelona.

Each had a player who laid fair claim to being the best footballer in the world.

Cristiano Ronaldo at Real and Lionel Messi at Barca.

Then Pep walked away, leaving the stage to Mourinho.

Now, the English Premier League may provide the setting for the next battle of these two great managers.

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is certain he will manage again in England once his time at the Bernabeu comes to an end.

"I cannot deny what is clear in my mind. After Real Madrid, England. That is for sure," the former Porto and Inter Milan coach had told Britain's Sky Sports Television.

The idea of replacing Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who has been in charge since 1986 and was due to retire in 2002 but changed his mind, has long appealed to the confident Portuguese manager.

Chelsea remain his true love though and he has previously stated he will return to Stamford Bridge one day.

However, now news that another Chelsea target Pep Guardiola is set to meet with AC Milan will spur some clubs in to action.

The La Gazzetta dello Sport paper claims that club president Silvio Berlusconi has asked to arrange talks with the former Barcelona boss as doubts continue to surround the future of present coach Massimiliano Allegri.

It is neither Chelsea, nor Milan that Guardiola will be a perfect fit.

Arsenal is the team that Guardiola could once again work his magic on.

Arsene Wenger has already provided the foundation for the Guardiola Barcelona magic to be transported to the Emirates.

They even have Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta in midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich are also interested in one of the most successful managers in world football.

Pep Guardiola at Arsenal and Jose Mourinho at United.

Let the battles begin again.

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