So how close was this to happening?

Well that's the thing, and one of the things that obviously drives all of these sliding

doors moments.

These aren't just ideas that we've plucked off the top of our heads.

These are moments when it genuinely could have gone a different way.

Merino and Guadiala were the two candidates.

Merino was considered by a big part of the Barcelona border directors.

By the way this is 2008 for those wondering.

A big part of the border directors, the best candidate because he's seen as Merino

has been for out his career as a guarantee.

He's seen as this is the guy we would win with.

And it's worth noting something really, really big at this stage.

This is also a guy whose connection to Spanish football is Barcelona.

Now I know most people know this, but it's worth stressing at this point.

This is a guy who it was understood at some stage would be Barcelona manager.

He had worked with Bob Robson, he would work with Luis Van Hal, he'd been very, very

generous about his connection to Barcelona.

There's fame.

He'd done every other coaching job at the club, and because he was translated, he was

sort of an opposition scout, he was an assistant, so it was kind of the logical next step.

In fact, there's, I think, because it's been talked about a little bit this week, so

it's come back to mind.

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