The Brazil international feels the Bayern Munich boss can spark a revolution at the Etihad Stadium but will need to add new faces if they are to challenge for the Champions League
Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has hailed former manager Pep Guardiola as a "football Einstein" and believes he can succeed at Manchester City.
The Brazil international spent four seasons under the Bayern Munich manager at Camp Nou, winning three Liga titles and the Champions League on two occasions.
And the former Sevilla man feels Guardiola can begin a revolution at the Etihad Stadium when he takes over from Manuel Pellegrini in the summer.
"His secret is he gets you to see things differently," he told The Times. “He is a football Einstein.
"For him it’s a change and that’s what he likes. Guardiola likes to move to places where he can make a revolution. I have no doubt that he is going to achieve it because he is a freak of football.
"[He will want] everything his way, and when you get to a place where they are going to allow that — because in England they respect that — it will be ideal for him."
While City have established themselves as a Premier League powerhouse in recent years, they are yet to make their mark on the Champions League.
And Alves believes Guardiola will have to bring in new faces to fit his style if the two-time Premier League winners are to challenge for European silverware.
"It will be difficult because he will have to find the pieces. It was difficult for Guardiola when he left here because he had a philosophy and knew players were going to follow him.
"Elsewhere, they are of a different mentality. If you have a puzzle and cannot find the right pieces, the thing will never fit."
- Goal