Football
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Xavi backs 'perfectionist' Pep Guardiola to thrive in Premier League

Pep Guardiola has been backed to be a successful manager in the Premier League by his former Barcelona protege Xavi amid renewed reports that the Bayern Munich boss is set to take over at Manchester City.

Reports out of Spain suggest that the Catalan coach has agreed to take over at Manchester City next summer, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that Guardiola has verbally agreed to join Manchester City when his contract with Bayern expires in June 2016.

Xavi said that Guardiola, who won two Champions League trophies and three domestic league titles during his trophy-laden four-year tenure at the Camp Nou, would fit anywhere.

"He would adapt to any team, any team. He would bring his fantastic touch of football," Xavi told Eurosport when asked his Guardiola would thrive in English football. "Pep is a very prepared manager, he's very meticulous, a perfectionist, he's got very clear mind for football and would be a success in any team."

Mundo Deportivo reported that Guardiola, who has won the Bundesliga twice in two seasons and has Bayern top by seven points again after winning eight times in eight matches, has given his word to City director of football Txiki Begiristain, a former Barcelona employee.

City are currently managed by Manuel Pellegrini, who recently signed a new contract at the club and on Thursday received the backing of star striker Sergio Aguero.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently said he expected Guardiola to stay at Allianz Arena, yet the veteran coach has not extended his agreement with the Bundesliga club after three years in Germany.

Xavi says he is unsure what Guardiola's next move will be.

"I don't know, I don't know," he said. "It depends on football and the results as we don't know what's going to happen yet. Maybe he will win the treble and his contract will be renewed, I don't know.

"He's a magnificent manager and he's doing a great job. They've had an incredible start, that's clear. They are giving us extraordinary football."

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