Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has the small matter of a Champions League Final to focus on – but a phone call to Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond could be on the agenda post-match.
Guardiola will be creating his plan to see off Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday with trusted lieutenant Enzo Maresca and his City coaching team as the English Premier League giants looks to claim a Treble and their first Champions League victory. And while all talk of Maresca heading for the exit door this summer has been put on hold until after the Final of Europe's elite competition, Guardiola could play a key role in who replaces Ange Postecoglou in the dugout of the Scottish Premiership champions.
The Celtic connections with the City Group run deep having picked up their previous manager from another affiliated club – Yokohama F Marinos – while head of recruitment and scouting at Parkhead Mark Lawwell previously worked within the organisation. And there appears to be a strong relationship between Pep and majority shareholder Desmond.
Back in 2021, Desmond reportedly bumped into Guardiola in a hotel and discussed issues surrounding bringing Eddie Howe to the club. The Manchester City boss talked up Postecogolou and his achievements in the J-League having kept tabs on the Greek-Aussie since facing off with the now-Tottenham boss back in a pre-season friendly in 2019.
Desmond took the advice – then watched the Hoops claim five of the next six trophies on offer in Scotland during the next two campaigns. After Postecoglou landed the Spurs job, the Spaniard was among the first to congratulate the "exceptional manager".
The twice Champions League-winning boss could reprise his role as kingmaker this summer - with Alan Brazil hinting at a close relationship between the pair. Brazil said on his talkSPORT show Desmond will use Guardiola as a sounding board - which could lead to the key seal of approval for Maresca: "Do you know who is going to have a big say?
"This is going to astonish you - Pep Guardiola. Pep, he will have a massive say as he and Dermot Desmond are very close. It's Enzo Maresca, I've got it, on good authority."
The question remains over if the he would be willing to lose his assistant with a decisive recommendation. City Football Group's unwritten policy is to allow any manager or coach to leave if they request it and Maresca has already been allowed to step out on his own.
He endured a miserable spell at Parma that lasted just 13 games when he left his role as City's under-23 boss for a shot in Serie B in 2021. Off the back of a potential Treble Maresca could fancy another shot at management – and Guardiola could issue the vital stamp of approval to Desmond.
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