Pep Guardiola made phone call to Premier League manager offering help on one condition

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered to help newly-appointed Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, the latter has confirmed.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss is widely considered as being the greatest in the modern game.

After a hugely successful six seasons so far at Manchester City, in comes as no surprise to see some of the more fresh faces in the English top-flight taking tips from the Catalan coach.

Pep Guardiola has won four of the last five Premier League titles, often going head-to-head with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool team in intense trophy pursuits.

The latest manager to enter the Premier League is Roberto De Zerbi - the new head coach of Brighton & Hove Albion.

De Zerbi comes in with plenty of pressure on his shoulders, as he looks to successfully succeed Graham Potter at the Amex Stadium, after the Englishman took an opportunity at Chelsea this month.

Graham Potter, Chelsea head coach. (Alamy)

Speaking during his first press conference as Brighton manager, Roberto De Zerbi has revealed how Pep Guardiola has offered to help him, but on one strict condition.

That is that there is no help during matches between Manchester City and Brighton.

De Zerbi told the press, "I spoke to Pep (Guardiola, before becoming Brighton & Hove Albion manager), yes.

"He’s very happy that I’m on board here."

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (PA Images / Alamy)

The Italian manager continued, "He told me very good things about the club.

"And he told me that if I need he will be very happy to help me – but of course, not in the match we are playing against them!"

The mutual respect and admiration between the pair goes back to Pep Guardiola's days as Bayern Munich manager.

Guardiola first met with Roberto Di Zerbi while at the Bundesliga club, and evidently they have remained in touch since that moment.

Roberti Di Zerbi. (LaPresse / Alamy)

Di Zerbi comes in to the Premier League off the back of a cut-short time with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 43 year-old left the Ukrainian side as a result of the Russian invasion, but was the first Italian manager to win the league title in the country through a triumph in 2021.