Jose Mourinho takes swipe at Pep Guardiola over $53 million dilemma with Kalvin Phillips

It was about time a ‘Pep Guardiola vs. Jose Mourinho’ headline recurred in the world of football, as Mourinho, like forever, has used his words to throw subtle shade at Guardiola. When two of the greatest managers of all time clash, be it on field or behind the mic, it is always a treat for the fans as this rivalry always delivers.

Jose Mourinho has come out to talk about Manchester City’s transfer policy, throwing light at Pep Guardiola’s management of Kalvin Phillips in the team, after acquiring him for over $53 million back in the summer of 2022. Kalvin Phillips looks set to leave City in the winter transfer window, after just 30 appearances for the club.

Roma boss Mourinho throws shade at Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has always been a manager that shows no mercy with regard to the team he is coaching, and many times players have faced harsh treatment, be it Gabriel Jesus earlier or Kalvin Phillips now. However, Mourinho, like always, was quick to catch Guardiola’s statement turned into an apology for Phillips. 

The Roma boss compared how Guardiola gets to spend $53 million for a player, and then later sell them if it does not work out, in contrast to his restrictions with AS Roma and how he barely gets to sign any players. 

Jose Mourinho, in his press conference, took a sly dig at the Manchester City boss and said, “Look, not that I’m jealous, but Manchester City, for example, paid €80 million for Phillips. And now, in January, Pep said he will send him away and buy another [midfielder]”.

He highlighted his problems at Roma and further stated, “We are in a different reality. I would like one, two, three or four players, and [Roma sporting director] Tiago Pinto and the owners would like them too. We all want to try to improve the team to be stronger for the second half of the season. But we have difficulties in trying to do that.”

Mourinho and Roma prepare for the January window as their aim for European glory remains intact as they look to bounce back from last year’s horror final.

Pep Guardiola barred transfers from Munich and Barcelona

Pep Guardiola undoubtedly stands tall as one of the greatest managers of all time, if not the greatest. With 34 trophies across Barcelona, Munich and Manchester, Guardiola has only won wherever he has gone. But behind this glory, there have been stringent and surprising ground rules in all his tenures. 

While at Manchester City, Guardiola has enjoyed a lot of comfort in getting players bought and has been given whatever he has wished for. However, there are a few players that City don’t have the power to buy, not because of any monetary reasons, but because of one of Guardiola’s ground rules that players from either Bayern or Barca will not be bought.

According to reports, Pep’s biographer Martí Perarnau has stated that Man City sporting director Txiki Begiristain prepared a transfer shortlist that included several players from Bayern and Barcelona. However, Guardiola made it clear that he would not recruit any players from the teams he has previously coached, presumably out of respect for the clubs.

Do you think Pep Guardiola is the undisputed GOAT manager above Jose Mourinho now? Let us know your opinions via comments.