How Guardiola convinced Nigeria’s Olanrewaju Kayode to join Manchester City

Details have emerged of how Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, convinced Nigerian striker, Olanrewaju Kayode, to snub a move to Newcastle United.


Kayode arrived England for talks with the Magpies, after the club secured permission to hold talks with him from Austrian side, Austria Wien.

However upon his arrival in England, words got to City about his availability and minutes later Guardiola was on speaking with him on the phone.

“The conversation didn’t last beyond 30 minutes , Guardiola told him how he will integrate him into his team in the nearest future, and assured him he will get his chance with the team soon,” a source told Owngoalnigeria.com.

“Guardiola made it known to him that he fits into his style of play, and the move to Spain where he will join Girona on loan is so because he isn’t eligible for a work permit yet.

“I will say Newcastle United were too confident of their chances of landing him (Kayode), and manager Rafa Benitez didn’t sound convincing as much as Guardiola when he spoke with Kayode.”