Brazil and Santos legend Pepe remembers fondly his time coaching new Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, and said his reluctance to head the ball stood out during the pair's time together.
Pepe is considered one of the greatest strikers of all time in his native country, and won two World Cups with Brazil as well as back-to-back Copas Libertadores and 10 Paulista titles alongside Pele in the Santos attack.
He also had the privilege of taking Pep under his wing during his last season as a player, at Qatari outfit Al Ahli.
"We used to talk a lot. We had plenty of free time (laughs), and after the training sessions we would drink a cup of tea together sometimes," Pepe recalled in an interview with Goal.
"He told me: 'Mister, Argentina have a great crop of young players. There's an Argentine named Messi, you certainly will be hearing about him.
"He used to ask me about Santos' attack of the 60's, how Clodoaldo used to play... I felt he had a great interest in tactics. So we used to talk a lot about it."
One anecdote that stayed with the Selecao star came during a pre-match chat, where Pepe first saw that Guardiola was born to lead from the touchline.
Premier League: Ins and Outs
"Before games I used to give instructions to the players on a giant tactic board of paper: who would be our free kick taker, who would kick the ball, who would run... and the ones who would jump to defend us in the aerial duels with the head," he said.
"I listed the defensive players and Guardiola was among them, as he was our No. 5. But after the instrunctions he pushed me aside and said: 'Mister, can I tell you something?'
"'Sure you can, Pep.'
"'I've never put my head on the ball. My head, I use it for thinking.'
"As I treated him as a son, I took him off heading duty," the 81-year-old laughed.
Guardiola makes his Premier League bow on Saturday, when City host Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
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