Manchester City chief Ferran Soriano insists they weren't pushing for Pep Guardiola to replace Roberto Mancini this season. Soriano and his director of football Txiki Begiristain have strong links with Pep Guardiola from their days working together at Barcelona.

Their old coach was strongly tipped to join them before opting to go to Bayern Munich.

But a link-up in future has not been ruled out.

Soriano said: "I know Pep. Txiki knows Pep. So we don't need to be in the market for Pep.

"If Pep decided to come to England he would have called us, right? He's very young, 42 now, and after Germany he probably will come to England."