Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has reaffirmed that he is still under contract, despite growing speculation that he may depart the club this summer.
This Tuesday night, the Catalan coach will lead his team against Bournemouth and Andoni Iraola as they aim to keep their title hopes alive until the final day of the season.
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Arsenal extended their Premier League lead to five points with a victory over Burnley on Monday night, meaning Manchester City must secure three points on the south coast.
Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Guardiola could be approaching what may be his final away match as City’s manager at the Vitality Stadium, following widespread reports from the English media suggesting the 55-year-old is set to conclude his time in North West England.
Latest Updates on Pep’s Future at Manchester City
Late on Monday night, it was heavily reported that Guardiola has opted not to complete the final year of his Manchester City contract due to a clause allowing him to leave this summer.
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The Catalan coach signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad Stadium in November 2024, overseeing a major restructuring of the first-team squad. This season, he has already led the team to a Carabao Cup and FA Cup double while the squad undergoes significant changes under the guidance of sporting director Hugo Viana.
Fans of Manchester City had hoped that Guardiola might reconsider and fulfill the remainder of his contract, especially after reports over the weekend suggested that he has developed a strong affection for his current squad following their impressive performance in the latter part of the season.
However, it is now widely anticipated that a formal announcement regarding Guardiola’s decision to resign as Manchester City manager will be made following the home Premier League match against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Pep’s Comments on His Future Before the Match Against Bournemouth
Manchester City chooses Pep Guardiola’s replacement with an agreement in place.
Frustrated by the repetitive nature of such questions, which he has encountered frequently since the New Year, Guardiola replied: “Next. Allez! I have said many times, I have one more year.”
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Despite this, it is likely that Guardiola is publicly maintaining his contractual stance to avoid drawing attention to his future amidst Manchester City’s pursuit of a domestic treble in the season’s final weeks.
However, City’s title race is not entirely within their control, as they will require assistance from Crystal Palace and departing Eagles manager Oliver Glasner on Sunday to have any hope of securing a title-winning send-off for Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.