Pep Guardiola told Man City players the manager who he wanted to replace him before he took another job

Pep Guardiola has reportedly suggested who he thinks should succeed him as Manchester City manager once he leaves the club.

After joining City ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, the Spanish manager has enjoyed incredible success at the Etihad, lifting five Premier League titles, a Champions League and several other trophies.

Therefore, the task of succeeding Guardiola at City seems almost completely impossible, with duplicating his success at the club likely an insurmountable task.

However, there is one manager that Guardiola himself believes could be the perfect replacement once he decides to leave Manchester City.

According to a report from The Telegraph last October, Guardiola believes that former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi has all the ingredients to take over at the Citizens when he does decide to leave.

Earlier that year, after the Seagulls played out a 1-1 draw against City, the former Barcelona boss made his intentions clear as he approached three Brighton players while walking down the Amex Stadium tunnel.

Here, he nodded towards De Zerbi and said, "That’s the next Man City manager."

And this isn't the first time Guardiola has praised the Italian manager as, ahead of their 22/23 season clash on May 24, Pep labelled De Zerbi 'one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years'.

“Pay attention to what I’m about to say because I’m convinced in what I’m saying that [Roberto De Zerbi] is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years," he said. "There is no team that plays the way they play, it’s unique.

"I had the feeling that when he arrived I had an idea the impact he would have on the Premier League would be great but I couldn’t expect him to do it in such a short time.

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“They create on average 20-25 chances per game. They monopolise the ball in a way that hasn't been seen for a long time. Everybody is involved - the goalkeeper is like a holding midfielder.”

However, De Zerbi left Brighton the following year by mutual agreement following two years in the Premier League.

Shortly after he took over as manager of Ligue 1 club Marseille, signing a three-year deal with the French club.

But with Guardiola expected to remain at City for the foreseeable future, it is likely that the door remain open for De Zerbi to return to the Premier League sometime in the future.