Pep Guardiola nearly joined Pompey

The most highly-regarded manager in world football was lined up to link up with the Blues in 2005.

Guardiola has collected a stack of trophies with Barcelona and Bayern Munich and will join Manchester City in the summer.

But, according to agent Tony Sharkey, he was set to arrive at Fratton Park when Velimir Zajec was manager.

Sharkey told thesun.co.uk: ‘I was desperately trying to get a deal done and said Pep could do some coaching for Portsmouth as well as he’s such a great football guy.

‘My gig was to get him a playing contract in the Premier League but, because I was desperate, I said he could also do coaching with his experience.’