Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of football’s greatest managers, but his demanding methods and intense approach have also contributed to difficult relationships with several high-profile players.
A recent report by PUNCH, based on a feature by Planet Football, highlights a number of players whose time under Guardiola was marked by disagreements or tension.
Zlatan Ibrahimović had perhaps the most famous fallout with Guardiola. The Swedish striker joined Barcelona in 2009 but struggled to maintain a good relationship with the manager. Ibrahimović later criticised Guardiola heavily, accusing him of ignoring him and favouring Lionel Messi. Their relationship eventually deteriorated to the point that Barcelona loaned Ibrahimović to AC Milan after just one season.
Samuel Eto’o also experienced tensions with Guardiola at Barcelona. The Cameroonian striker was an important part of Barcelona’s treble-winning side in 2008/09, but Guardiola was reportedly willing to move him on as he reshaped the squad. Eto’o eventually left for Inter Milan, where he won another Champions League under José Mourinho.
Yaya Touré had complicated relationships with Guardiola at both Barcelona and Manchester City. At City, Touré became increasingly unhappy with his reduced role under Guardiola. After leaving the club, he accused the manager of having problems with African players. Guardiola denied the accusation, while Touré later said he regretted making the comments and apologised.
Joe Hart was another major casualty of Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City. Hart had been City’s first-choice goalkeeper before Guardiola took charge in 2016, but the manager decided that the England international did not fit his preferred style of playing out from the back. Hart was subsequently loaned to Torino before leaving City permanently.
João Cancelo initially appeared to be one of Guardiola’s most trusted full-backs at Manchester City. Their relationship, however, eventually broke down. Cancelo later complained about his treatment at City, while Guardiola criticised the player’s attitude. Cancelo was sent on loan to Bayern Munich in January 2023 and later joined Barcelona.
Alexander Hleb had a difficult spell under Guardiola at Barcelona. The Belarusian midfielder struggled to establish himself and was disappointed after being left out of Barcelona’s squad for the 2009 Champions League final. Hleb later acknowledged that he had also contributed to his own difficulties but remained critical of aspects of his relationship with Guardiola.
Cesc FÃ bregas also experienced a complicated relationship with Guardiola. FÃ bregas had idolised Guardiola since childhood and joined Barcelona after Guardiola had established the club as one of Europe’s dominant teams. However, years later, FÃ bregas admitted that they had not spoken since Guardiola left Barcelona and hinted that there had been disappointment between them.
And most recently, Kyle Walker has become another prominent name on the list. Walker was a key part of Guardiola’s Manchester City team for years, winning multiple Premier League titles and the Champions League. However, footage from the Amazon Prime documentary A Beautiful Obsession shows a heated dressing-room confrontation between the two after City’s defeat to Liverpool in December 2024.
Walker reportedly confronted Guardiola over what he believed was repeated criticism and questioned whether the manager had ever genuinely wanted him as captain. Guardiola, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over Walker’s decision to leave City when the team was struggling. Walker subsequently moved to AC Milan on loan before later joining Burnley.
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