Pep Guardiola gives Bayern Munich secret approval as they prepare to name new manager
PEP GUARDIOLA held a secret lunch date with Bayern Munich to give his opinion on who they should appoint as their next manager.
Bayern are on the lookout for a new boss after they sacked Carlo Ancelotti last week amid talk of a player revolt in the squad.
And the Bundesliga giants decided to seek the counsel of former manager Guardiola as part of their process for finding their next main man.
With the Premier League taking a week off for to the international break to finish the qualifying stages of the World Cup, Guardiola had some time on his hands.
So the Manchester City boss flew out to Munich where he met Bayern president Uli Hoeness in an exclusive Italian restaurant.
Hoeness wanted to seek advice from Guardiola on the candidates for the job of taking over from Ancelotti after the club's faltering start to the season.
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Guardiola spent three years in charge at the Allianz Arena before quitting to take charge of City in 2016.
And he still remains close friends with the Bayern hierarchy, and Hoeness in particular who values his opinions on football.
They are understood to have spent much of the lunch going through the merits of the candidates for the role - with Luis Enrique, Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann the names in the frame.
Enrique is available after ending his three-year spell in charge of Barcelona last season, and is understood to be a leading candidate.
But there is also plenty of support for ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel - who himself is also without a club at present.
The other man in the frame is Julian Nagelsmann, who has emerged as one of Germany's most highly-rated young bosses at Hoffenheim.
Nagelsmann saved Hoffenheim from relegation in his first season, and last year led the club to a fourth place finish to secure Champions League football for the first time in their history.
At 30, he would represent a gamble for Bayern to appoint to such a major position, but he has plenty of support among the board in Munich.
All three were discussed at length, and afterwards Hoeness revealed Guardiola had given his blessing to the club's plans.
Hoeness said: "I told him who we would appoint in the next few days. He was satisfied."
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