Have Bayern Munich really flogged Manchester United an unfit Bastian Schweinsteiger?

Schweinsteiger, who spent 16 years at Bayern, moved to United earlier this summer but Guardiola stressed first and foremost the Red Devils have to get the World Cup winner back to peak condition.

"When he does not have injury problems, I am completely convinced he will do very well at Manchester United. He is a top, top player," the Bayern boss said of the 31-year-old.

"Unfortunately, during the last three years he was never in good condition. He is going to play really well there (at United). I really hope that is going to happen."

Guardiola, speaking at a press conference ahead of the Audi Cup, also reserved praise for rumoured United transfer target Pedro.

The 44-year-old watched the Barcelona forward develop during his time at the Nou Camp and he rates him as being among the very best.

"He (Pedro) is one of the best players you can imagine," Guardiola added.

"He's won the European Cup, the Champions League and played millions of games for Barcelona. He can play in any team in the world, but I don't know the situation right now. He's a great player."

The former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness was fairly sceptical about Schweinsteiger's ability to contribute to United over an entire season.

Does such criticism stack up? Let us examine Souness's analysis and Guardiola's suggestion that he hasn't been fit for the past three seasons. The Germany midfielder turned out in 36 matches in 2013/14, including three games at the World Cup finals where his country ended up winning the tournament. When Bayern Munich won the Champions League in 2012/13, he appeared in 43 games and in 2011/12 he enjoyed 38 appearances. He may have only managed 15 matches in the Bundesliga last season, but that was in a grand total of 33 for club and country.

There are lies, damned lies and statistics.Schweinsteiger was a convenient omission from the Bayern side because Guardiola did not particularly like the need to accommodate such an iconic figure with the fans in Munich. For a fee of around £10m, there is little doubt in his ability to make a telling contribution to United. Under LVG, he will get the games he needs. Starting out, it is unfair to cast aspersions over his fitness levels so early.