Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa has revealed that the club’s former manager Pep Guardiola has a clause in his contract that will prevent him signing players from the club.

Spaniard Guardiola has agreed to take over at Manchester City from Manuel Pellegrini next term after three largely successful years in Germany, despite failing to win the Champions League.

When queried as to whether he could envision joining his former manager at City, the Brazilian replied in the affirmative, but added that things would not be so simple.

‘Yes, I would be open to an offer from City if Pep called me,’ he told Globoesporte.

‘But he has something in his contract, a clause which says he cannot sign any players from Bayern.’

Such a clause would not only prevent Guardiola making a move for Costa, but would rule out the signings of fellow Guardiola favourites Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba.

‘He cannot be compared to any Brazilian manager. If you made all the managers in Brazil in to just one, then you get Pep,’ Costa said of his former coach.

‘He always invents new things. He’s magic. I hope he wins the Champions League with City – Pep has it all.’