Did Pep Guardiola cheat Bayern out of signing Kevin De Bruyne? Fernandinho alleges Man City boss stopped German giants from buying Belgian playmaker

Before his arrival at the Etihad Stadium, De Bruyne showcased his exceptional talent at Wolfsburg, where he delivered several stellar performances, scoring 16 goals and providing 28 assists during a remarkable campaign. Guardiola, then at Bayern Munich, experienced firsthand the threat posed by De Bruyne when his team suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Wolfsburg, leaving a lasting impression on the Catalan manager.

Ex-City star Fernandinho, shedding light on Guardiola's alleged strategy, revealed that despite Bayern's interest in De Bruyne, the Spanish manager vetoed the move, expressing doubts about the player's suitability for his team. The former City captain also insinuated that Guardiola had foreknowledge of his eventual arrival at the Premier League club and intentionally redirected De Bruyne's career path towards the Etihad.

Fernandinho speaking on the Denilson Show: “[Guardiola] was at Bayern and De Bruyne was at Wolfsburg. Bayern's scouting department says: 'We're looking at this boy, what do you think about bringing him here?' And Pep [said]: 'No, no, no, I don't want him, I don't think he'll fit into our team'.

"The year passes, De Bruyne goes to Man City. Another year passes, and Guardiola arrives at City. Do you understand? The guy knew he was going to City and sent De Bruyne there."

Since joining City, De Bruyne has become one of the Premier League's standout performers, amassing an impressive record of 98 goals and 165 assists in 369 appearances across all competitions. Under Guardiola's tutelage, the 32-year-old has played an instrumental role in City's success, contributing to five Premier League titles, one Champions League triumph, five League Cups, and two FA Cups.

Guardiola would hope that De Bruyne will put his best foot forward when City host Liverpool on Sunday as the result could have huge ramifications in the Premier League title race.