In a message of congratulations to sextuple winners Bayern Munich, who claimed the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday, Pep Guardiola joked that he would call Lionel Messi and others to challenge the German giants for a seventh title.
The Bavarians got their hands on the Club World Cup trophy after a 1-0 win over Tigres UNAL, securing a sextuple to become only the second team in history to do so after Guardiola's Barcelona in 2009.
After the Bundesliga club had claimed its sixth trophy in the past year, the Manchester City manager sent a message of congratulations to his ex-club, and jokingly said he would give Messi a phone call before challenging Bayern to a seventh title.
"Big congratulations to all the Bayern family for this incredible success, to be the Club World Cup champions and especially to win six titles," Guardiola said in a video message, according to the Daily Mail.
"We are so proud, I am so proud, a big congratulations for everyone, especially Hansi (Flick), the players and the backroom staff for this amazing thing.
"But I would like to say to Hansi that you are the second team to win the six titles in a row!
"Before you, there was another team, Barcelona… so maybe I can call Messi and company and we can play for the seventh title? Tell me when and where, and we will be there!"
Bayern advanced to the final of the Club World Cup after beating Pitso Mosimane's Al Ahly 2-0 in the semi-finals, with the former Mamelodi Sundowns boss earning great praise from Hansi Flick in the build-up to that encounter.
The Egyptian giants defeated Brazilian club Palmeiras via a penalty shootout on Thursday evening to claim third place at the tournament.
