From Zlatan to Walker, players who fell out with Guardiola
August 21, 2026 9:58 am
Ex-Man City coach, Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history, but his demanding methods and meticulous approach have also led to disagreements with some of the biggest names he has coached.
From Barcelona to Manchester City, several high-profile players have publicly spoken about difficult relationships with the Catalan manager.
According to Planet Football on Friday, these are some of the players who have fallen out with the Spanish manager.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic’s relationship with Guardiola deteriorated during his only season at Barcelona in 2009/10.
The Swedish striker, who joined Barcelona from Inter Milan for a reported £59 million, famously criticised Guardiola after struggling to establish himself as a key figure in the team.
Ibrahimovic later described Guardiola as a great coach but questioned him on a personal level, with their strained relationship becoming one of the most talked-about player-manager disputes of Guardiola’s career.
Samuel Eto’o
Eto’o was another major forward whose relationship with Guardiola became strained at Barcelona.
The Cameroonian striker had already played a crucial role in Barcelona’s success before Guardiola took charge, but he eventually left the club for Inter Milan in 2009.
Eto’o later spoke critically of his experience with Guardiola, while also taking pride in Inter’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona in 2010.
Yaya Toure
Toure worked with Guardiola at both Barcelona and Manchester City but never appeared to enjoy a close relationship with the manager.
The former Ivory Coast midfielder once accused Guardiola of having problems with African players. He later apologised for the comments and admitted that what he said was wrong.
Despite Toure’s importance to Manchester City, he eventually left the club in 2018.
Joe Hart
Joe Hart was one of Manchester City’s biggest stars before Guardiola arrived in 2016, but the goalkeeper quickly found himself out of favour.
Hart recalled Guardiola telling him during a lengthy conversation that he did not see him fitting the profile of goalkeeper he wanted.
Claudio Bravo subsequently became Guardiola’s first-choice goalkeeper, while Hart left City on loan before eventually departing permanently.
Joao Cancelo
Cancelo was one of Manchester City’s most important players when Guardiola made him a key part of his system.
However, their relationship eventually broke down, and Cancelo was sent on loan to Bayern Munich in January 2023.
Cancelo later claimed that City had been “ungrateful” towards him and rejected suggestions that he had been a disruptive presence in the dressing room.
Kyle Walker
Walker enjoyed a highly successful spell under Guardiola, winning every major trophy available with Manchester City.
However, his relationship with the manager eventually became strained, and Walker’s future at the club became uncertain.
The England international later opened up about his departure and admitted that his conversations with Guardiola before leaving the club were uncomfortable.
Alexander Hleb
Hleb’s time at Barcelona was largely disappointing, and his relationship with Guardiola was not always smooth.
The Belarusian later admitted that he was partly responsible for the problems, acknowledging that he did not respond well when Guardiola asked him to learn Spanish.
With hindsight, Hleb said he understood Guardiola’s position and admitted that he would have acted similarly if he had been in the manager’s position.
Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas spent one season under Guardiola at Barcelona, but their relationship reportedly became complicated.
Years later, Fabregas admitted that he no longer had a relationship with Guardiola, while acknowledging that he had learned a great deal from the manager.
Fabregas had regarded Guardiola as an idol since childhood, making the eventual breakdown in their relationship particularly notable.
Dante
Dante worked with Guardiola at Bayern Munich during the manager’s three-year spell in Germany.
The Brazilian defender later criticised Guardiola’s communication with players, arguing that his tactical brilliance did not always translate into strong personal relationships.
Despite the disagreements, Guardiola enjoyed considerable success at Bayern, winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles.
Guardiola’s intense standards have undoubtedly contributed to his extraordinary success, but the experiences of these players show that his demanding personality has also produced some memorable clashes with those who played under him.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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