Pep Guardiola is being lined up as a replacement for Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, once the legendary manager retires, according to several reports in the Spanish press. However, United were quick to deny the speculations.
Ferguson took some time off from Old Trafford, with the bulk of his squad on international duty, and after cheering for Andy Murray in the final of the U.S. Open, Ferguson was seen to have met Guardiola, who is currently residing in New York.
Several newspapers in Spain suggested the meeting was planned between Ferguson and Guardiola, as the duo discussed the possibility of the former Barcelona manager taking over once the Scot calls it a day. There were also suggestions Guardiola, who decided to take a one-year sabbatical at the end of last season, had decided to make a temporary base in New York, to learn the English language away from the media glare.
United representatives, however, dismissed the rumors, with sources revealing to the Daily Express that the meeting between the two occurred "by chance".
The Spanish media are reporting Guardiola is the first choice to replace Ferguson, with Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho next in line.
Meanwhile, United suffered a couple of injury scares with key duo Robin Van Persie and Shinji Kagawa suffering injuries while on international duty with the Netherlands and Japan respectively.
Van Persie was taken off after the first half of his country's World Cup qualifier against Hungary, which the Dutch won 4-1, after suffering a thigh injury. Holland coach Luis Van Gaal was quick to play down the issue, saying the substitution was just a precautionary measure.
"We took off Robin for precautionary measures," Van Gaal said after the game. "It doesn't seem to be too serious, but you never know.
"We didn't want to take any risks."
Kagawa also picked up an injury, while training with the Japanese national team. The Japanese playmaker missed his country's World Cup qualifier against Iraq with a back problem.
"I felt a twinge in the back during practice when I was on the ball," Kagawa told the Kyodo news agency. "I had some treatment but didn't want to risk causing the team trouble by playing.
"Obviously it's a shame I wasn't able to play. It's not that serious and I don't think it will keep me out for long."
