Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola jokes about never getting Gary Lineker's Barcelona shirt: 'I asked for your shirt after the game but you never gave it to me - I never forgave you!'

  • Pep Guardiola revealed he has had a grudge against Gary Lineker for a long time
  • It stretches back to Lineker's Barcelona days when Guardiola was still a ball boy
  • The Manchester City boss said he asked for Lineker's shirt after Barca matches
  • But the former England international never gave it to him despite him asking

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed he's held a long-term grudge against Gary Lineker that stems back to his childhood at Barcelona. 

The pair spoke when recording an interview for the BBC's The Premier League Show and the Spaniard boss took the opportunity to refresh Lineker's memory of a story that took place at the Nou Camp when he was playing for the Catalan Giants.

At this point the former England international was their star man and leading the line while Guardiola was very much at the beginning of his footballing journey. 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola joked about never getting Gary Lineker's Barcelona shirt

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola joked about never getting Gary Lineker's Barcelona shirt

He revealed his grudge to Lineker in an interview for the BBC's The Premier League Show

He revealed his grudge to Lineker in an interview for the BBC's The Premier League Show

The City boss then, was progressing through Barca's illustrious youth rankings as a creative and technically gifted midfielder, who also acted as ball boy on matchdays.


And that led to Guardiola reminding Lineker he had once refused to give him his shirt. 

'Did you know I was a ball boy [at the Nou Camp} and I gave you balls,' Guardiola smirked.

Gary Lineker played for Barcelona from 1986¿1989
Pep Guardiola was still in Barca's youth set up at that point but went on to be one of their greatest ever midfielders

Guardiola was ball boy and in Barcelona's youth system when Lineker was playing for them and said the former England star never gave him his shirt after matches at the Nou Camp

'I asked for your shirt after the game but you never gave it to me - I never forgave you!'

Lineker replied: 'I didn't know that was you, you probably had hair then. Now I feel really bad, [but] they never allowed us to give away our shirts in those days.

'There you had to keep the same shirt all season.'

Guardiola and Lineker buried the hatchet at the end after the latter promised to give him his shirt. 

He said: 'I'll give you my shirt now,'

Guardiola replied: 'I forgive you, I'll have your shirt now.'

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