Jordi Cruyff has said that he believes Pep Guardiola was "lined up" to take over as Manchester United boss following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
The 47-year-old was appointed as Bayern Munich manager in the same summer that legendary United boss Ferguson stepped aside at Old Trafford.
David Moyes was instead handpicked for the role, but former Man United and Barca midfielder Cruyff thinks that Guardiola - now in charge of rivals Manchester City - was close to taking the job.
"I've always felt, not now but before Guardiola went to Bayern Munich, there was a chance that Manchester United had the chance to go for it," he told Sky Sports News.
"I think there was a moment where things were lined up, it was there, but Man Utd chose someone else, I'm talking many years ago, and he took a different way.
"I think he would have suited a club like Man Utd many years before. I'm not talking this era, not now, I'm talking like five or six years ago I think. There was a moment where things were aligned, that was the moment, and United took a different path."
Moyes was sacked by United after just 10 months in charge, with Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho since being appointed.
Daniel Lewis
