Reports: Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City at season’s end

Media reports suggest that Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of next season. Guardiola, who recently secured his fourth consecutive Premier League title with the club, is in the final year of his contract and appears unlikely to sign an extension.

During the open bus parade celebrating the historic achievement, Guardiola was asked if he would stay with City indefinitely. Caught off guard, he laughed and replied, “Forever?! [laughs].” He added, “Even I didn’t expect to stay here for eight years, but everything has gone well. It’s not routine, but step-by-step, we are here.”

Despite the speculation, Guardiola has committed to fulfilling his contract and promised that City will rebound from their recent FA Cup final disappointment. “We will be back next season,” Guardiola assured. “The FA Cup, we will take it.”

Reports indicate that the club’s upper management is already considering potential successors to Guardiola.

Guardiola’s future at City has been a topic of ambiguity. After winning the title last week, he admitted he was closer to leaving than staying. “The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. We have talked with the club, and my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season, and during the season, we will talk. But after eight or nine years, we will see,” he said.

“I have a contract, and I’m still here. Sometimes I’m a bit tired, but other times I love it, and we are here winning games and looking good with new players.”

Having previously managed Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it is possible that Guardiola might take a sabbatical, similar to what Jurgen Klopp did after leaving Liverpool. Klopp enjoyed a successful nine-season tenure at Anfield and had a competitive rivalry with Guardiola.