RIO DE JANEIRO: Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has dismissed, via his agent, any possibility of becoming coach of the Brazilian national team as pressure increases on current incumbent Mano Menezes.

“I have never received any contact from the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation),” Guardiola's agent Josep Maria Orobitg was quoted as saying by the sports daily Lance on Friday.

“I speak frequently with Pep and he instructed me not to negotiate with anyone interested in hiring him....I deny all of this.”

Brazilian fans have created online groups asking for Guardiola to be appointed in place of Menezes, who has come in for stinging criticism for the national team's style of play and their disappointing showing at the London Olympics football tournament, where they won the silver medal after losing in the final to Mexico.

Sections of the Brazilian media have questioned Menezes' suitability for the post, but the CBF have not yet shown any intention to replace the coach ahead of the 2014 World Cup, which Brazil will host.

“It is difficult to talk about the future,” added Orobitg.

“But I don't think Pep would want the Brazil job or the position of coach of any national team.

“He really likes European football, especially club football.”

Guardiola left Barcelona in May after four hugely successful seasons in charge.

He is currently living in New York where, according to Orobitg, “he is happy, with his wife and children, who are already enrolled in a school there.”