Pep Guardiola and Lionel Messi’s careers are synonymous with each other due to how much of a role each party played in their respective rise to the top.
Messi admitted Guardiola impacted him massively as the Catalan tactician elevated him into becoming the best player in the world at Barcelona.
Pep Guardiola tried signing Messi at Manchester City despite him being on the wrong side of 30 in 2020 — and while a move was on the cards, the Argentine eventually pledged his allegiance to the Spanish giants.
The two-time treble-winner would admit that managing the World Cup winner was a one-of-a-kind experience as since his early days at Barcelona, the now-Inter Miami phenom has arguably gone down as the greatest player of all time.
But back in September 2016, Pep Guardiola had his say on how far away Kevin De Bruyne was to being comparable to Lionel Messi.
Pep Guardiola said Kevin De Bruyne is a level below Lionel Messi
Guardiola felt that while Messi is in a league of his own, De Bruyne was just a level below him via BBC Sport: “Messi is on a table on his own.”
“No one else is allowed. But the table beside, Kevin can sit there.”
Pep Guardiola continued to laud Kevin De Bruyne after making his claim about Messi and at the time, he had managed the Belgian in just eight competitive games at Manchester City at the time: “Kevin is outstanding player.”
“Without the ball he is the first fighter. With the ball, he is clear. He sees absolutely everything. He makes the right decision in the right moment every single time.”
“I don’t know him too much but from what I can see he is a guy who likes to be at home with his wife and kids. Before the game he is relaxed and quiet.”
Interestingly, Pep Guardiola also stated at the time that if De Bruyne aims to win individual awards like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he will have to win trophies — which the 33-year-old managed to by winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award twice.
Guardiola claimed: “He is one of the best, there is no doubt about that. We are lucky to have him. But to be the best, you have to win titles. Maybe I am wrong but I think he would like to win these individual prizes.”
- READ MORE: Pep reveals the conversation he had with Kevin De Bruyne before he announced Man City departure
Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi could play together next season
It is telling that Pep Guardiola made such a huge claim about De Bruyne, despite managing him for such a short spell of time that sums up his incredible talent and why he is arguably the best creator of the past decade alongside Messi.
Guardiola will perhaps be delighted about the fact that Messi and De Bruyne could play in tandem at Inter Miami next season as the Major League Soccer side are eyeing the latter’s signature.
The MLS side hold the discovery rights to sign the six-time Premier League winner.
If Inter Miami pull off the move, David Beckham could have add another superstar in his ranks in De Bruyne to his side that already boasts of legendary figures like Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba.
