'We have Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, but you, Andrea, you're the icing on the cake'

Pep Guardiola tried to sign the Italian midfielder for Barcelona in 2010, but AC Milan refused, as revealed by Andrea Pirlo himself in his autobiography. Real Madrid tried to swoop in for the Italian after being crowned world champion in 2006 and, four years later, the Catalan giants also approached Pirlo to attempt lure him to the Camp Nou.

'We're already very strong, I really couldn't ask for better, but you'd be the icing on the cake. We're looking for a midfielder to alternate with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, and that midfielder is you', Guardiola told Pirlo.

'You've got all the attributes to play for Barcelona, and one in particular, you're world class', the midfielder revealed his conversation with Pep Guardiola, which took place after a Barcelona-Milan tie at the Camp Nou.

When the game came to an end and taking advantage of the spotlight being momentarily trained on Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the now Manchester City boss summoned Pirlo into his office, where he waited 'elegant in the extreme' sitting in an armchair and with a bottle of red wine on the table.

'Thank you for agreeing to meet me', the coach said.

'Thank you for inviting me'.

'We need you here, Andrea', Guardiola uttered in what Pirlo described as 'absolutely perfect' Italian. Not known for beating about the bush, the Spaniard cut straight to the chase, Pirlo explained in his autobiography 'I think therefore I play'.

The conversation lasted half an hour, in which Guardiola did his best to persuade the midfielder into switching Milan for Barcelona. He admitted Barcelona had approached the 'rossoneri' outfit, who firmly rejected the proposition.

'You've got to come here, Andrea. I've always liked you as a player. I want to coach you', Guardiola told a slightly taken aback Pirlo. AC Milan did not sanction the transfer but, only one season later, he joined Juventus where he continued to write on the pages of his distinguished career.