Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta's relationship has cut across a range of strands over the years - and evolved along with their managerial styles.
The pair go head to head at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in a match many have billed as a Premier League title decider. A win for Guardiola and second-placed Manchester City would cut the lead of Arteta's Arsenal side to just three points, with a game in hand.
The Spaniards' relationship started in 1997 when Arteta joined Barcelona's academy - meeting his idol, Barca skipper and fellow midfielder Guardiola. Their time as team-mates was brief, but a friendship was forged.
Communication between the two managers cooled significantly when Arteta gave up his role as Guardiola's assistant in Manchester back in 2019 to take charge of Arsenal.
While the City boss' other former assistants maintained closer contact, Arteta stepped away - and that distance created silence.
Guardiola appreciates those that give and take continuously, but if that is not clearly expressed, relationships can fracture even without a clear conflict. Arteta is someone who moves forward without being dependent on past professional bonds.
Contact was eventually re-established in the last year and tensions eased. Nobody wants to say who made the first call, but they speak again.
They are now competing for the same trophies but, at the same time, recognise the strength of the friendship, and both suffer in that solitary place that is managing a football team at the very top.
The relationship between Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta, marked by both personal and professional evolution, will take centre stage on Sunday as their teams, Manchester City and Arsenal, face off at the Etihad Stadium in what is widely seen as a pivotal Premier League title clash.
A victory for second-placed Manchester City would narrow the gap with league leaders Arsenal to just three points, with City also holding a game in hand.
The bond between the two Spaniards began in 1997 when a young Arteta joined Barcelona's academy, meeting his idol and then-club captain, Guardiola. Though their time as teammates was brief, a lasting friendship was established.
However, their professional connection significantly cooled when Arteta left his role as Guardiola's assistant at Manchester City in 2019 to take the managerial reins at Arsenal. Unlike other former assistants who maintained contact, Arteta created a distance, which led to a period of silence between the two.
Guardiola values a continuous give-and-take in relationships, and a lack of this can lead to fracturing, even without overt conflict. Arteta, meanwhile, tends to move forward without relying on past professional ties.
Tensions have since eased, and communication was re-established within the last year, though neither manager has disclosed who made the initial contact.
Now direct competitors for major trophies, they nonetheless acknowledge the strength of their friendship, sharing an understanding of the immense pressures of managing a top-tier football club.
