Pep Guardiola ‘set’ to leave Man City next summer amid U-turn reports

Pep Guardiola has apparently agreed to leave Manchester City upon the end of his contract next year - albeit the manager might yet be considering a U-turn, a report claims.

The 53-year-old, into his ninth season at the club, has yet to sign a renewal ahead of next summer's expiry date. As things stand, Guardiola is expected to leave the Etihad Stadium, although he has not categorically ruled out a renewal.

A number of City fans sent a clear message to their coach in Saturday’s 3-2 win over Fulham, with the 1894 Group spending over £1,000 to create a banner that read ‘Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay’. The message was written in Guardiola's native Catalan language, with Estelada independence flags draped on either side.

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“They have to bring me the bill,” Guardiola remarked after full-time. “I will pay, I don’t want them to spend money for that. What can I say? Thank you so much. I fell in love since the first day I was here. What’s going to happen is going to happen.”

After the title lift on the final day of the Premier League last season, Guardiola hinted that he might be considering his future at the Blues. However, he sought to clarify his comments a few months later in July.

"I have been eight years at Man City and I will not be here for eight more years, that is why [I said] I am closer to leave than stay," he underlined. "But I didn’t say I am leaving. Never ever. I would say. When I am leaving I will say I am leaving. But I didn’t say.”

It is unclear whether the high-profile financial legal case against the Premier League will have any bearing on Guardiola’s ultimate decision, but the Manchester Evening News understands that those close to him believe he will make his choice this winter.

Meanwhile, a recent report from The Athletic has claimed that Guardiola’s exit had been agreed at the end of last season, but that his departure is not quite a foregone conclusion.

It moots that with City trying to convince him to stay, Guardiola could yet make a U-turn and is considering staying on - albeit there is still ongoing ambiguity over his ultimate intentions.

Guardiola will go down as the club’s most successful manager of all-time, having become only the second ever manager to guide an English club to The Treble, in 2023.

In all during his time at City, he has lifted 18 pieces of silverware including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and a Champions League.