Guardiola rules out Barca return and weighs in on Yamal–Messi comparisons

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager, gave an interview to GQ magazine in which he analysed the start of pre-season and shared his thoughts on the new campaign. The Santpedor-born coach took the opportunity to definitively rule out a return to FC Barcelona, either on the bench or in another management role.

"It's over. It's over for good. It was very nice, but it's over. Return as president? No, I'm not cut out for that," Guardiola stated emphatically. During the conversation, he was also asked about the emergence of Lamine Yamal and the constant comparisons with Lionel Messi.

The coach said: "I think Lamine Yamal should be allowed to pursue his career. And when he's been playing for fifteen years, we'll say whether he's better or worse. Let him pursue his career. And the fact that he is being compared to Messi is a big deal."

Guardiola used an artistic metaphor to emphasise the difficulty of such comparisons: "It's like comparing a painter to Van Gogh, they'll say, wow, not bad, a sign that he's good."

For him, the comparisons are in themselves a recognition of the young footballer's talent. However, he insisted on the need to let Yamal develop his own path and avoid unnecessary pressure.

When asked about Messi, Guardiola was conclusive: "Messi has been extraordinary. That's 90 goals in a season, for 15 years, without stopping, without injuries. That's extraordinary. Leave it. Leave it."

The coach ended the interview by sending a message of admiration for Messi and warning that each player must write their own football story.