Former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has revealed that the club were interested in bringing in Pep Guardiola in 2013.

The Chilean arrived at the Etihad Stadium that year and went on to win the Premier League title and two League Cups before being replaced by Guardiola at the end of last season.

Guardiola, meanwhile, moved to Bayern Munich in 2013, but Pellegrini confirmed that the Spaniard was in the frame for the City job three years before he landed it.

"When they signed me, [Manchester] City were very clear with me. They came for me and they told me that they wanted Pep Guardiola or me," he told Cadena SER.

"Guardiola did not want to sign and I did it for three years. I fulfilled my phase and Pep wanted to coach in England because he had spent many years in Barcelona. There is no problem."

Pellegrini is currently the manager of Hebei China Fortune in the Chinese Super League.