Pep Guardiola insisted he had "no regrets" after revealing he turned down the chance to sign Paul Pogba on the eve of Manchester City's derby defeat in April 2018.
The Manchester United midfielder, 29, is out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to leave Old Trafford. Pogba has failed to flourish during his six-year spell in Manchester, winning just two major honours - the EFL Cup and Europa League.
Yet many believe Guardiola can get the best out of Pogba - despite his United links - and City are reportedly considering making a move for him. Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also thought to be interested in the World Cup winner.
City have had the chance to sign Pogba before, of course. In April 2018 - on the eve of the Manchester derby - Guardiola told reporters the player's late agent Mino Raiola offered him the opportunity to bring Pogba to the Etihad three months earlier.
The confession came after Raiola described Guardiola as "a coward" and "a dog". Responding to the insults, the Spaniard said: "I will answer him; I don’t understand why I am. Finally, the people discover my secrets – a bad guy. I’m a coward [sarcasm].
"I don’t understand why I am a bad guy. I never speak with him so his opinion [about me], I don’t know. But being a guy who two months ago offered me [fellow United midfielder Henrikh] Mkhitaryan and Pogba to play with us. Why?
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"Why he offer? He was interested in Mhikitaryan and Pogba to play with us? So he has to protect his players and has to know he cannot bring the players to a guy like me, like a dog. And comparing a dog is bad. It’s not good. He has to respect the dogs."
Guardiola added: "Pogba is an incredible player... a top, top player... I said no [to the offer]. We don’t have the money enough to buy Pogba because he is so expensive. I’m surprised because I am a dog. He wants his players to come to here. So, no. No way."
Pogba went on to punish Guardiola in the derby. He scored twice to inspire United to a 3-2 win - recovering from 2-0 down - and deny City the chance to win the Premier League against their local rivals. Guardiola's side did eventually lift the title, claiming 100 points.
Although City couldn't afford to buy Pogba at the time, they can this summer. Guardiola's side will be able to match his salary at United - believed to be around £300,000-a-week - and can offer him a handsome signing-on bonus due to the lack of a transfer fee.
Pogba wouldn't be the first player to cross the Manchester divide during the 21st century. Carlos Tevez did so in the summer of 2009... and City marked the move in style by plastering an audacious "Welcome to Manchester" sign in the middle of the city.
Will City sign Pogba and welcome him with a billboard, too? Watch this space.
