3) Pep Guardiola – Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a famously well-travelled player, having won league titles galore and plying his trade among some of the best managers in the world. The Swede has nothing but praise for most of them, showering praise on managers like Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho, but Pep Guardiola is the biggest exception, with Ibrahimovic being extremely uncomplimentary about the Catalan.
It had started rather well, with Guardiola willing to get rid of Samuel Eto’o and pay €69.5 million in total to bring Zlatan from Inter Milan. However, with Lionel Messi gradually grabbing the spotlight and aiming to play the central striker role, the Swede found himself alienated, reported speaking to his manager just twice in six months.
Guardiola hinted at something bad, saying “If Ibra and I have spoken only twice in six months, there is a reason, but it is better for the club if I don’t talk about it..” Ibrahimovic was reported furious at the treatment, throwing traning gear and verbally abusing Guardiola in one outburst, only for the Catalan to not engage.
The Swede described Guardiola as a ‘spineless coward' in his autobiography and later went on to attack the Catalan personally, saying “Whatever happened, as a coach he was fantastic. As a person, I have no comments about that. That is something else. He is not a man. There’s nothing more to say.”
Ibrahimovic’s departure from Barcelona was inevitable, and the club’s success later vindicated Guardiola’s decision on the football pitch. However, with Ibrahimovic looking to play in the Premier League and Guardiola set to take over at Manchester City, it might be time for the duo to bury the hatchet.
