Former Italy and Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni joked with Pep Guardiola that it was the Manchester City coach's fault he could not find a team.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Guardiola met with fellow ex-Brescia starToni joked that coach ruined his careerMan City boss used Haaland in responseFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The City coach met up with ex-Italy stars Toni and Roberto Baggio at a restaurant in Lombardi. The three former players are united by their connection to Brescia, having each played for the club at some point in their careers.
AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE
However, Toni had a bone to pick with the legendary coach, as he said it was because of Guardiola's revolutionary style at Barcelona, which saw him use Lionel Messi as a false number nine, that classic striker Toni had a hard time finding work before he retired.
WHAT TONI SAID
"Pep, you ruined football. With the false nine, I couldn’t find a team for four years. Seriously," he joked in a video with the City boss laughing in the background. "Can you say that you only used the false nine with Messi? Do you even like [classic] centre forwards?"
Guardiola was quick to defend himself, though, pointing out that he now plays with an old-fashioned striker in the form of Erling Haaland. He said: "I have it, Haaland, 60 goals. We won the treble with that striker, but the centre-forwards must be good! Understand?"
Toni responded: "Okay, but stop it with false nine now. Big centre-forwards are better."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA?
Guardiola will hope that his return to a recognised number nine in Haaland will reap him more silverware, with the reigning English champions chasing more Premier League and Champions League trophies this season.