Top 11 extracts from Andrea Pirlo's autobiography "I Think Therefore I Play"

#2 On then Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola wanting to sign him

I didn't need to be asked twice. In I went. The room was furnished in sober fashion and there was some red wine on the table. "Always a good start," I muttered to myself. Thankfully the most envied coach in the word didn't hear me. His way of speaking is very similar to mine not really tenor style, let's say. "Make yourself comfortable, Andrea," he began, his Italian absolutely perfect.

I wasn't really bothered about much else in that room besides the person who had summoned me. Guardiola was sitting in an armchair. He began to tell me about Barcelona, saying that it's a world apart, a perfect machine that pretty much invented itself. He wore a white shirt and a pair of dark trousers whose colour matched that of his tie. He was elegant in the extreme, much like his conversation.

[PepGuardiola] "Thank you for agreeing to meet me."

[Pirlo] "Thank you for inviting me."

[Guardiola] "We need you here, Andrea."

You could tell he wasn't a man to beat about the bush. After a couple of minutes, he'd cut straight to the chase. As a player, his job had been to conduct the play and as a manager he'd learned to attack, always with impeccable style.

Were already very strong, I really couldnt ask for better, but youd be the icing on the cake. Were looking for a midfielder to alternate with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, and that midfielder is you. Youve got all the attributes to play for Barcelona, and one in particular youre world class." [Pirlo quotes Guardiola.]

During that half hour I largely kept quiet and let him speak. I listened and, at most, nodded my head. I was so taken aback by the summons that my reflexes had slowed. I was more dazed than excited: shaken by the situation, but in a really positive way.

"You know what, Andrea: weve made this approach because thats how we do things round here. We dont waste time. We want to buy you right now, and weve already spoken to Milan. Theyve said no, but well not give up: were Barcelona. Were used to hearing certain answers but, in the end, things pretty much always change. Well try again with Milan. In the meantime, start making a few moves with them as well."

The discussions went on for a while and, ultimately, Milan didn't give in. I suppose it was always going to go like that. Back then, they still thought I had all my faculties and so they kept me, without ever getting involved in full-on negotiations.

(Eventually he didn't move to Barcelona as Milan were too reluctant to let him go.)