Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has said that he is happy to see that his friend, Pep Guardiola, has a big challenge in front of him at Manchester City.
It was formally announced on Monday that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach will take over at Manchester City for the start of the 2016-17 season as part of a three-year deal.
"We will have to see how he brings to life his ideas in a country in which this type of play is not very common," Luis Enrique said on Tuesday during a news conference ahead of the Catalan club's Copa del Rey semifinal match against Valencia. "But I am sure he will connect it to success.
"I am very happy about it. He loves challenges and I am sure that this will be a grand era for his next club. These seasons will be great for watching."
Since taking over in 2014, Luis Enrique has led Barca to a treble of UEFA Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey titles, which led to inevitable comparisons to Guardiola's era at the Catalan club.
Guardiola announced in December he was to leave Bundesliga giants Bayern at the end of the current campaign and outlined his ambition to coach in the Premier League.
The former Barcelona boss is close friends with City's director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano. The three worked together at the Camp Nou.
Guardiola won two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles at Barca, and the 45-year-old has two Bundesliga titles in his two full seasons as Bayern boss.