Manuel Pellegrini feels no resentment toward his former club Manchester City and always knew, even when he took the helm in the summer of 2013, that Pep Guardiola was the club's first choice as manager.
City announced in February that Guardiola would take over the side on a three-year contract after the 2015-16 campaign, and Pellegrini left City after three successful years in charge.
A former Barcelona player and then coach, Guardiola had been a long-term target of City but turned down the chance to manage them in the summer of 2013 and took an offer from Bayern Munich instead.
"It [Guardiola's arrival] was a natural process," Pellegrini told Cadena Ser. "I had always known since I arrived, because City had been very clear about it, that it was going to be either me or Guardiola.
"Guardiola turned down the offer [in 2013] so I signed a three-year contract. I completed my deal."
Pellegrini says he wasn't surprised that City turned to Guardiola after he announced last year he was leaving Bayern at the end of the season.
"Guardiola had been wanting to coach in England and he had worked many years with them [former Barca player and current City director of football, Txiki Begiristain] at Barcelona so it was not a problem."
Pellegrini led City to the Premier League title and the Capital One Cup in the 2013-14 campaign while earlier this year, they won the League Cup by beating Liverpool on penalties.
"I've got fond memories of all the clubs that I've been in," the 63-year-old said. "I spent three years at City where the demands were very high and we achieved those beyond expectation.
"We were the team that scored the most goals in [the Premier League] in those three seasons and won the most games in two of the three campaigns [in the league]."
Pellegrini could have remained in England, he said, but opted for a new experience and signed for Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune in August.
"I had offers from Spain, Italy and England but none of them were to guide a competitive club," he said. "The fact that Hebei China wanted me was important for me.
"It was not like other clubs that were also considering other coaches. This is a new experience in a different continent and comes after a long spell in Europe which was more than satisfactory for me in every aspect."
Pellegrini intends to see out his two-year contract with the Chinese club.
"I recently had a call from England but I turned it down because I've given my word and I intend to respect the two-year contract I've signed," he said.