Brazil Wants To Rope In Man City Boss Pep Guardiola As Replacement For Tite After World Cup Exit?

Tite, 61, stepped down as a manager following Brazil's shock quarter-final exit at the FIFA World Cup 2022, and now it seems like all eyes are on Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Sky Sports reported that Brazil will try to sound out Guardiola on his plans for the future as they look to find a replacement for Tite.

Brazil, a World Cup favourite team, was knocked out in dramatic fashion on Friday by underdogs Croatia. It won a tense penalty shootout and is set for a semi-final clash with football star Lionel Messi's Argentina Tuesday, according to Mirror. As for Brazil, the team headed home over the weekend and waved goodbye to Tite. He had been at the helm for more than six years.

It seems like the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has wasted no time in identifying its top target to replace him. Its president Ednaldo Rodrigues will reportedly connect with Guardiola less than a month after he signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City. Brazil knows that the Manchester City boss had previously expressed his desire to coach its national team. He has never forayed into the international game during his coaching career.

Although the Catalan tactician recently committed his future to Manchester City, the bosses at the CBF are keen to hold talks with him. While it's unlikely they will be able to convince Guardiola, 51, to quit his role at the Etihad any time soon, they still want to know his future plans. His new deal keeps him in Man City until the summer of 2025, which is 12 months before the next World Cup starts. Brazil has no competitive matches until the second half of 2023, so the CBF is in no rush to appoint a new manager.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo believed that his nation tried to tee up Guardiola's services before the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. The football icon had claimed that there was interest in Guardiola, "it was discussed with Guardiola's coaching staff, but he preferred to renew the contract with Manchester City." He had shared that it might be "difficult for the CBF to reach an agreement, he is the highest-paid coach in the world."