When Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were appointed by Manchester City and Manchester United respectively in 2016, the two clubs were expected to go head-to-head for Premier League titles for years.
However, Guardiola had already won a title at City by the time Mourinho was shown the door at Old Trafford in 2018.
The £378,846-a-week man has begun his ninth season as the club while the Portuguese tactician has managed Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma since and is the current Fenerbahçe boss.
The pair of managerial greats’ rivalry did not translate from Spain to England.
The Manchester City boss reigned supreme over Mourinho — much like he did during his time at Barcelona where he won a La Liga title, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup, the Supercopa de España, the Copa Del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup when his adversary managed Real Madrid.
Jose Mourinho also beat Pep Guardiola to the title in 2012 but in the following campaign, his Los Blancos side came second to Tito Vilanova’s Blaugrana side while he failed to win the Champions League as well.
Rodri offered to Mourinho at Manchester United in 2017
Perhaps the former Chelsea boss reflects on why he especially could not compete with the Catalan during their time in the Premier League.
During Mourinho’s final campaign in Manchester, where he was eventually sacked, the club only signed Diogo Dalot, Fred, Lee Grant and Paul Woolston.
The ex-Inter Milan manager might have felt he could have pushed City to the title had United strengthened more vigorously in the market — considering only Dalot and Fred were potential starters.
However, Mourinho had the chance to sign one of Manchester City’s current best players in 2017; a summer where the Red Devils signed Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof.
Journalist Duncan Castles has revealed that when Rodri was at Villareal, Jose Mourinho was offered the chance to sign him at Manchester United but he chose to reunite with Matic instead.
Castles claimed on The Transfer Podcast: “He was actually recommended to Jose Mourinho as a Manchester United signing in 2017 when he was still at Villareal. He subsequently joined Atletico Madrid, 2018 for €20 million (£16.8 million) and Mourinho went to Nemanja Matic instead.”
“Interesting to think what could’ve happened there if Manchester United had decided to pay what was actually considered quite a high fee at the time but has been demonstrated to be, I think way before potential market value into what he turned into.”
The Spaniard went on to sign for Atletico Madrid before making a £62.5 million move to Manchester City.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Man City would be glad Rodri did not end up at Man United
City would be counting their lucky stars that Manchester United did not add a young Rodri to their roster when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the club.
The Euro 2024 winner has gone on to become one of Manchester City’s best players during Pep Guardiola’s time in charge.
Rodri is likely viewed as the envy of the other elite teams in the world as there are not many better players than him in the game.
Manchester City managed to snap up a player who played a key role in elevating their side.
Rodri’s name is etched in City folklore for scoring the winner in their 1-0 win against Inter Milan in the Champions League final last year and as one of the most important players in their history.
At Manchester United, the former Villareal midfielder could have had a similar impact.
But football well and truly works in funny ways as Rodri seems destined to, if he already is not considered as a Manchester City legend.
