Pep Guardiola visits jailed Catalan leaders during international break

Guardiola has been a longstanding supporter of the Catalan independence movement

Pep Guardiola has reportedly visited jailed Catalan leaders at the Lledoners Prison outside of Barcelona during the international break.

Taking time away from Manchester while the UEFA Nations League and friendly matches take place, Guardiola met with Catalan activist Jordi Cuixart at the prison.

Cuixart faces up to 17 years in jail for his role in the Catalan government’s unilateral declaration of independence in October of last year.

In a post on Twitter, Cuixart thanked Guardiola for visiting: “Message from prison. Thank you Pep Guardiola, for showing the prisoners at Lledoners that leadership is also social commitment and solidarity, and for reminding us that teamwork has no limits. Infinitely grateful.”

Missatge des de la presó:

Gràcies Pep Guardiola, per mostrar als presos de Lledoners que lideratge també és compromís social i solidaritat. Per recordar-nos que el treball en equip no té límits. Infinitament agraïts, també a @xavitorresll pic.twitter.com/0Ol69VlJia

— Jordi Cuixart (@jcuixart) November 15, 2018

Guardiola has been a longstanding supporter of the Catalan independence movement, and was fined in March of this year for wearing a yellow ribbon in support of it.

It has been reported in the Mirror that Guardiola met with a number of other figures from the movement while visiting the prison, including former Catalan government vice-president Oriol Junqueras.

The manager, whose Manchester City side currently sit top of the Premier League, has faced accusations of hypocrisy over his stance, while simultaneously being employed a club whose owners have been accused of consistent human rights violations.