Pep Guardiola picks player he dreamed of playing with as he continues to influence modern football. From redefining possession-based football at Barcelona to reshaping tactical thinking in Germany and England, the Spanish coach has left an imprint on every league he has worked in.
His teams are known not only for winning trophies, but for changing the way the game is played and understood.
Guardiola’s managerial career has been built alongside some of the greatest players of their generation. At Barcelona, he oversaw an era that many still regard as the gold standard of club football. Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta were at the heart of a side that dominated Europe, blending technical excellence with collective intelligence.
Later, at Bayern Munich, Guardiola guided a squad filled with experience and quality, with players such as Philipp Lahm and Robert Lewandowski thriving under his detailed and demanding approach.
In England, his work at Manchester City has been equally transformative. Kevin De Bruyne flourished as one of the Premier League’s most creative midfielders, while Erling Haaland has rewritten scoring records with remarkable speed.
Across three countries, Guardiola has consistently elevated elite players and built teams that set new standards.
Yet, for all the stars he has coached, there are still famous names he never worked with. Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are often mentioned when discussions turn to players Guardiola never managed.
Even then, he shared dressing rooms with outstanding talents, but timing meant he missed out on playing alongside some of the game’s biggest icons.
That sense of “what might have been” has resurfaced following a recent interview, in which Guardiola was asked to look back not as a coach, but as a footballer, and consider who he would have most liked to share the pitch with.
A surprising choice: Pep Guardiola picks player he dreamed of playing with
According to GiveMeSport, speaking to TNT Sports, Guardiola was posed a simple but intriguing question: which player did he wish he had played alongside during his career?
The question appeared to catch him off guard. He paused, reflected, and then delivered an answer that surprised many observers.
“Ahhh, good question… Neymar!”
For some fans, the response seemed unexpected. Guardiola never played with Lionel Messi, having left Barcelona in 2001 before Messi broke into the first team.
Given the Argentine’s close association with Guardiola’s greatest managerial successes, many assumed Messi would be the obvious answer. Others might have expected Diego Maradona, a figure synonymous with Barcelona history, who left the club several years before Guardiola established himself in the senior side.
Instead, Guardiola chose Neymar, a player from a different generation and a different footballing culture. The Brazilian forward joined Barcelona long after Guardiola had hung up his boots and begun his journey on the touchline.
Yet the admiration in Guardiola’s voice was clear, reflecting a long-held appreciation for Neymar’s talent and influence.
Why Neymar left such a strong impression
Guardiola’s praise for Neymar is not new. Over the years, he has spoken openly about the Brazilian’s qualities and the impact he made during his time at Barcelona.
In 2021, Guardiola shared vivid memories of watching Neymar during his early days in Europe and the impression he left on teammates and opponents alike.
“I remember watching clips of Neymar and thinking this is the king of Santos. The players had their mouths open.
“If Neymar had stayed at Barcelona, they would have won two or three Champions League more. Him, [Lionel] Messi and [Luis] Suarez were the best up front. He makes football a pleasure.
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“I always believe with the quality of the players, there isn’t a defensive strategy to stop them. They are too good. They are incredible players, that’s why they are there.”
These comments offer insight into why Guardiola named Neymar as the player he most wished to play with. For Guardiola, football is not only about structure and tactics, but also about freedom, imagination and joy.
Neymar, particularly during his peak years at Barcelona, represented all of those elements.
The famous attacking trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, often referred to as “MSN”, terrorised defences across Europe.
Guardiola, watching from afar, believed that combination could have achieved even more had it remained intact. His remarks suggest that Neymar’s departure from Barcelona closed the door on what might have been a prolonged period of dominance at the highest level.
