Brazilian star Neymar has revealed a remarkable story from his past, stating that he was very close to joining Bayern Munich due to the insistence of coach Pep Guardiola.
In an emotional revelation, Neymar said: “I almost went to Bayern… because of Pep Guardiola. After winning the Puskás Award, my father kept calling me at 2 AM. I picked up the phone, and he told me to open the door… It was my father, Pep Guardiola, and a translator!”
The former Barcelona coach was determined to sign the Brazilian star and made him a clear offer: “Pep told me: ‘I want to sign you and take you with me, to whatever club I go. I will make you the best player in the world.’”
Guardiola didn’t just rely on words—he presented Neymar with a concrete plan for his role in the team: “He shows me a paper, opens his laptop, and explains where I would play… Pep also said: ‘If you don’t score 60 goals in a season, I’ll change my name.’”
The biggest dilemma for Neymar was figuring out which team Guardiola would be coaching. “I was thinking… okay, but which team? Pep said: ‘I can’t tell you yet because it hasn’t been made public.’ I insisted, and then he finally said: ‘I’m signing with Bayern. I know it’s a cold city, but I will take care of you.’”
In the end, despite Guardiola’s strong persuasion and his ambitious project, Neymar chose Barcelona, where he flourished and formed a fearsome trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez.
This revelation once again highlights the tremendous influence Guardiola has on players and how close Neymar was to joining the Bundesliga—a decision that could have changed the entire course of his career.