Bayern Munich Manager Pep Guardiola: I See Myself Coaching at Manchester United One Day

Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his desire to manage Manchester United in the future.

The Spanish boss joined the German giants in the summer of 2013 after taking a year-long sabbatical following his exit from Barcelona. He released a book written by Marti Perarnau -- In Pep Confidential: The Inside Story of Pep Guardiola's First Season at Bayern Munich.

The former Barcelona manager was impressed with the manner in which Sir Alex Ferguson managed United in 2011 and had set his sights on managing at Old Trafford.

"I like this atmosphere. I could see myself coaching here one day," Guardiola said, as mentioned by Perarnau in his latest book In Pep Confidential.

"The day after beating Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, Guardiola and Estiarte travelled to Manchester to watch their next opponents in action," Perarnau wrote.

"It was 4 May 2011, and the pair sat together in the stands of Old Trafford watching Sir Alex Ferguson's team beat Schalke 4-1."

"Once again Pep had turned to his friend and said: 'I like this atmosphere. I could see myself coaching here one day.' Guardiola has always felt a deep admiration, almost veneration, for the legendary teams and players of Europe."

The 20-time English champions were reportedly keen on bringing him to England after they showed the exit door to their former manager David Moyes. However, the 43-year-old continued at the Allianz Arena and won the domestic double in his debut season with Bayern.

Meanwhile, United's league rivals Manchester City and Chelsea were keen on snapping up Guardiola's services during his one-year break.

The Premier League champions' director of football Txiki Begiristain, who worked with the Spanish manager at Barcelona, was keen on bringing him to the Etihad.

In addition to this, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had also held talks with Guardiola in Paris to sign him for the west London club. However, he spurned a chance to join either of the clubs and agreed to be Jupp Heynckes' successor at Bayern.

"During his sabbatical year in New York, the job offers poured in. His ex-colleague, Txiki Begiristain, the director of football at Manchester City, was very insistent," Perarnau added.

"He also met up in Paris with Roman Abramovich, who was prepared to do anything to lure Pep to Chelsea ... Within a few months Pep, had chosen Bayern."