Josep Guardiola has not spoken to any clubs about a return to football, his agent had indicated.

 

The Spaniard is rated as one of the finest coaches in the game and is now a free agent following his decision not to renew his contract with Barcelona at the end of last season.

 

Several clubs have already shown an interest in the coach, and Guardiola has been at points a contender to take over at Chelsea, Inter and Shakhtar Donetsk; he was also linked with the Liverpool job.

 

But the Catalan has stood firm to his insistence that he is taking at least a 12 month sabbatical from the game; Guardiola has set his sights on living in New York and enjoying the increased anonymity this brings.

 

And his agent has confirmed that the Spaniard has not held talks with any club and continues to stick to his plan.

 

“He has not spoken to any club and is not ready to coach another club at the moment”, Guardiola’s agent Jose Maria Orobitg told Kicker.

 

“It would be a waste of time because Pep does not even know what he will want to do in spring 2013.”

 

When Guardiola is ready to return to football he is sure to have no shortage of suitors, having already proven his class over four trophy-laden seasons in charge of Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

 

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