Regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time, Pep Guardiola has had world-class players at his disposal wherever he has worked.
Not every big name has fit in under Guardiola, who hasn’t been afraid to sell some high-profile stars while collecting trophy after trophy at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
We’ve compiled a rather impressive XI of players to be cut loose by Guardiola.
GK: Pepe Reina
After spending nine years at Liverpool, Reina joined Bayern Munich in 2014 and mainly acted as back-up to Manuel Neuer.
The goalkeeper made just three appearances under Guardiola before signing for Italian side Napoli in 2015.
RB: Pablo Zabaleta
The right-back won every major domestic honour during his nine-year spell at Manchester City, establishing himself as a City hero.
But Guardiola completed a summer clear-out at the Etihad in 2017 and replaced the ageing Zabaleta.
What is it like to play under Pep Guardiola?@pablo_zabaleta tells all… pic.twitter.com/Yk27yCGarm
— Premier League (@premierleague) January 16, 2019
CB: Dante
Dante was a key part of Bayern Munich’s treble-winning side under Jupp Heynckes in 2012-13 but found first-team opportunities harder to come by under Guardiola.
The centre-back spent two years working under the Spaniard before joining fellow Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in 2015.
CB: Rafael Marquez
Marquez won four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues at Barcelona, but his time at the Nou Camp came to an end in 2010, despite signing a new three-year deal only a year earlier.
The Mexican was released from his contract and then signed for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.
LB: Oleksandr Zinchenko
The Ukrainian spent five years under Guardiola’s guidance at Manchester City, lifting the Premier League title in five of those years. That’s not a bad ratio.
Guardiola himself has admitted that Zinchenko is actually better as a central midfielder, but he was always reliable slotting in at left-back, a position he played over 100 times for City.
READ: Oleksandr Zinchenko is the midfield mentality monster ideal for Arsenal
DM: Bastian Schweinsteiger
Schweinsteiger came through the Bayern Munich academy and went on to win eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League with his boyhood club.
But he started to struggle with injuries and was sold to Manchester United in 2015 after being deemed surplus to requirements by Guardiola.
🏆 Bastian Schweinsteiger @FCBayern:
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