Manchester City have become accustomed to watching the managerial carousel over at Manchester United for years now. While Pep Guardiola has firmly held the reins at City since 2016, Old Trafford has seen six different managers shuffle through—some permanent, some interim.
With Erik ten Hag now the latest to leave, former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to temporarily step up for the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup clash against Leicester City.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim has been whispered as a possible successor for Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium. But recent reports, including from The Guardian, now link the 39-year-old with United, creating a ripple of speculation about how Amorim’s potential arrival at Old Trafford could shape Guardiola’s own future at City.
Could Amorim’s United Appointment Extend Guardiola’s City Reign?
In an exclusive with Manchester City News, GRV Media’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey delved into how Amorim taking over at United might affect Guardiola’s plans.
Bailey shared his view: “The one thing that will really keep Guardiola here is maybe Amorim going to Man United.”
He continued, “The fact that [Enzo] Maresca, [Mikel] Arteta, and [Arne] Slot are all bringing a new level of rivalry in the Premier League is helping keep him motivated. If he were cruising to the Premier League title by 20 points, as he has before, maybe he’d be more tempted to leave. But the idea of building this City team again, like [Alex] Ferguson did at United, is intriguing for him.”
Referencing Ferguson’s ability to rebuild United’s squad multiple times, Bailey suggested Guardiola sees a similar legacy opportunity: “Fergie rebuilt Man United two or three times—it’s rare to get that chance. I think there’s a good chance, and personally, I feel he may stay for at least another year.”
Bailey added that the current competitive landscape is keeping Guardiola’s passion alive. “The indications I’ve had recently don’t reflect the worry City had a few years ago about him leaving. This time, I think they believe he might stay,” he said.
Guardiola Speaks on His Future
As it stands, the 53-year-old’s contract with City is set to run out in June. During the October international break, Guardiola was rumored to be a candidate for the England job, though Thomas Tuchel ultimately took that role. When asked about his future with City, Guardiola was firm: “It’s not true [about the England job]. I can promise you, if I had made a decision on whether to stay or to leave [Manchester City], I would tell you.”
If Amorim does end up at United and sparks a resurgence, Guardiola might find himself even more invested in the challenge. Adding a fierce United-City rivalry back to the title race could be just the motivation he needs to extend his stay with the Blues.
One thing is certain—City fans and the club itself would welcome Guardiola signing on for another chapter after all the success he’s brought to Manchester.
