MANCHESTER, England -- Pep Guardiola has ruled out the possibility of ever managing Manchester United -- even if it was the only offer on the table.

Guardiola was sounded out about taking over at United by Sir Alex Ferguson at a meeting in New York in 2012.

The Spaniard had already committed to joining Bayern Munich, with David Moyes replacing Ferguson in 2013, before eventually arriving in the Premier League with Manchester City in 2016.

Guardiola has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2021 but suggested he would rather retire than move to Old Trafford.

"After training City, I won't train United," said Guardiola.

"It is like I would never train [Real] Madrid. Definitely not.

"I'd be in the Maldives if I don't have any [other] offers! Maybe not the Maldives because it doesn't have any golf courses."

Guardiola has enjoyed a good record against United since moving to England, winning four and drawing one of his eight derbies.

Ahead of the next meeting in the Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at Old Trafford on Tuesday, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer became the latest rival manager to raise the issue of tactical fouling, prompting Guardiola to re-issue a firm defence of his methods.

"I have said many times when I was at Barcelona and here I have never in my life have I had a meeting where I have talked to my players about tactical fouls," he said.

"It happens sometimes because you are late and because they are so fast, and they are so quick, that you make a foul.

"You lose the ball and they make incredible fast transitions and sometimes you are late and in that second you make a foul.

"But if the people can judge if our legacy is tactical fouling it is their problem, not ours."

Meanwhile, Guardiola is hopeful of having Leroy Sane available soon after five months out with a knee injury.

The winger has not played since August but is close to returning to full training.

"I think he is close," said Guardiola.

"I spoke with him two days ago and he said to me he is training alone with the ball, he is doing incredibly well, his knee looks really good so I don't think it is going to take too much time to come back to train with us.

"I think in the next few weeks he can come back. I think he is in the last stages."