Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta says he would like to bring Pep Guardiola back to the club if he wins the club’s presidential elections next year.
Laporta was Barcelona president between 2003 and 2010 when Guardiola was appointed as manager of the first team.
Laporta is aiming to become club president once again next summer when Josep Bartomeu steps down from the role.
Laporta told TV3 in Catalonia: "I'm working to introduce myself as a presidential candidate.
"I've been president before and I'm excited to be back. The situation in 2021 will be dramatic and we'll have to reverse it. I'm working with people I trust.
“I would very much like Guardiola to come back, but now he is at City and it is a decision that Pep should take.
"He is a benchmark for Barcelona and many Catalans would like him to train Barca again.
"At the right time, I will speak to the person we think should be Barca coach from 2021."
Guardiola's reign as Barcelona manager between 2008 and 2012 saw the club win three La Liga titles in a row as well as Champions League titles in 2009 and 2011.
That Barcelona team is considered to be one of the greatest ever European club teams and Guardiola has also won domestic league titles with Bayern Munich and Manchester City since leaving the Nou Camp eight years ago.
Guardiola's current contract at City is due to expire in June 2021 and he has previously indicated that he will be staying at the Premier League club until that deal runs out.
Speculation surrounding his future resurfaced earlier this year when City were handed a two-year European ban for a breach of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations but the club is in the process of appealing the suspension.
The 49-year-old also said in 2017 that he would not manage Barcelona again when he was asked about a return.
"I will never go back to Barcelona to be coach there. My period there is gone," he said.
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