Pep Guardiola’s current contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of this season, and the City boss has given some insight into what his future in management might look like.
After a goalless draw against Inter Milan in City’s opening Champions League game, Guardiola reiterated his passion for City and the English game, despite his side struggling to find their rhythm in the match. Substitute Ilkay Gundogan had two late chances to secure the win, but City ultimately had to settle for a point.
When asked by an Italian journalist if he could ever see himself managing in Italy, Guardiola firmly responded: “I love Italy, but I really enjoy being here. I love English football. It’s fantastic. They give you the freedom to do your job, which doesn’t happen anywhere else. This is a great club, and I feel really good here. I’m happy to be here.”
Guardiola’s contract with City runs until the summer of 2025, when the club is scheduled to compete in the revamped Club World Cup. While there has been no indication of whether he will extend his stay, many speculate that this could be his last season at the helm. There are also questions over whether his decision will be influenced by the Premier League’s ongoing investigation into City’s alleged financial breaches.
Though the six-time Premier League-winning manager has been tight-lipped about his future, after clinching the title last season, he hinted at his possible departure, saying: “The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying.”
In an interview with ESPN earlier this year, Guardiola expressed interest in managing a national team. “A national team, I would like to manage a national team for a World Cup or European Championship,” he said.
He added, “I don’t know who would want me! For a national team to take you on, they have to want you, just like with a club. But I’d love the chance to experience a World Cup, Euro, or Copa America.”
Guardiola concluded, “I’m not sure when that will happen – it could be five, 10, or 15 years from now – but I would relish the experience of managing at a World Cup.”
