Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hits out at Argentina FA president for salary comments

Claudio Tapia claimed that he had approached Guardiola but could not meet or exceed the City manager's salary

Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, has denied that he was approached to become the new manager of Argentina, despite claims by the president of the Argentine Football Association.

Claudio Tapia, the head of Argentinean football, claimed earlier this week that he had attempted to persuade Guardiola to replace Jorge Sampaoli but could not meet or exceed the City manager's salary. Guardiola had “a fat wallet,” Tapia said.

Guardiola dismissed those claims on Friday, during his pre-match press conference ahead of City’s Premier League opener against Arsenal, and claimed to be ‘disappointed’ to hear Tapia make such remarks about his salary.

“I’m a little bit disappointed because the president of the AFA cannot say that he could not be in contact with Pep because his salary is amazing,” the City boss said.

“To know that he has to know my salary. Secondly, he has to know that I know exactly that when you are with a national team, the approach is completely different. And the third thing, the most important, is that nobody contacted me.”

Guardiola went on to suggest that he would not consider the Argentina role given how happy he is in Manchester. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager signed a new three-year contract at the Etihad in May, following City’s Premier League title win.

“Of course because I have a contract and I want to stay here until the end. It was not correct to say the reason why [due to his salary],” Guardiola said.

“And another one: for the Argentina national team, the manager has to be Argentine,” he added. “There are many, and they are really good, so I’m not going to train Argentina.

“I don’t know what happens in the future but don’t say: ‘I don’t go with Pep because of the salary’. For that he has to talk to me and know everything. Next time he will do better.”