Will Guardiola leave Manchester City this summer?
Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City is definitely going to be one of the most talked about storylines between now and the end of the season. The Spaniard has one year left on his contract with the Citizens, but multiple reports have claimed he could be headed out of the club one year earlier this summer. There is nothing to suggest he has made a ‘final’ decision, but his eventual action could all hinge on one key moment.
Guardiola wants to leave Manchester City on a high
For a manager who is widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time, Guardiola would naturally want to leave when the ovation is high, similarly to a Sir Alex Ferguson who left Manchester United right after winning the Premier League. City might have won the domestic double already, having just beaten Chelsea 1-0 on Saturday while also winning the FA Cup after defeating Arsenal in the final back in March. However, these two trophies cannot exactly count as ‘success’ for the City boss, based on his own standards.
City got knocked out in the Champions League at the round of 16 stage by Real Madrid, while the Premier League title is no longer in their hands going into the final two games of the season. If Arsenal win their game against Burnley and City fail to win in any form against Bournemouth, then the Gunners would be crowned champions of the 2025/26 season.
Judging by Guardiola’s recent body language, he still has his eye on the Premier League, and it would have made sense to leave after winning that title. Also, the fact that he avoided a question about his future right after City’s FA Cup triumph might mean that he is considering staying the full length of his contract rather than leaving this summer.
What next for Guardiola and Manchester City?
On their part, Manchester City are already preparing for life without their iconic manager. The Citizens reportedly have an agreement in place that will see Enzo Maresca, former Chelsea boss and Guardiola’s former assistant, take charge as new boss should Guardiola choose to leave this summer. Whether or not it would happen remains uncertain, but everything may now hinge on the direction of the Premier League.
Should Arsenal go on to win the league, it might be more likely that Guardiola waits to see out the full length of his contract, waiting until the summer of 2027 before he steps down. However, if City somehow goes on to win the league, it is strongly expected that he would call it quits after 10 trophy-laden years at the club.
