A short-term approach and lack of history saw Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester City miss out on the services of Pep Guardiola, according to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

The former Barcelona coach, who helped the club to 16 trophies during a hugely successul four-year stint at the Catalan club, had kept everyone guessing over where his next move was going to be after a year-long sabbatical in New York.

His long-awaited comeback was revealed yesterday, though, with Bayern Munich clinching his signature despite heavy interest from England, with the 42-year-old set to sign a three-year deal until 2016 replacing the retiring Jupp Heynckes in the process, a move that Ferdinand was both surprised yet supportive of.

Ferdinand posted on Twitter: “The news yesterday of Pep going to Bayern Munich was a shock…until you step back and think why…stability, organised, competitive in CL.

“Money to invest, history+time I’m assuming to put his stamp on the club…he obviously wasn’t guaranteed all that at other clubs linked to!”

The Spaniard’s decision will come as a bitter blow to Chelsea in particular, having sacked Roberto Di Matteo back in November and replacing him with interim coach Rafa Benitez in an attempt to lure Guardiola to Stamford Bridge.