Exclusive: The truth behind Pep Guardiola's new Man City contract

Steve Kay

• Updated: 20 Nov 2024 21:50 GMT
• 4 min read

Exclusive

FootballTransfers understands that Manchester City are planning for Pep Guardiola's departure in 2026.

In light of the news of the Spaniard's impending contract renewal, we have spoken to sources familiar with the situation to shed light on the thought process behind Guardiola's new deal and what the future may hold beyond the initial one-year extension.

As has been widely reported, the 53-year-old's fresh deal includes the option for a further season, enabling Man City to not only keep Guardiola at the club until the end of the 2025/26 campaign but also until 2026/27.

However, we are told that the plan, as things stand, is for Guardiola to leave the club in 2026. The option to keep the tactician for a further season is purely a contingency should City bosses feel that the team is not yet ready to cope with his departure.

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The idea behind the new contract structure is to give Pep a few more transfer windows to prepare and rebuild the squad for his inevitable exit. Man City are well aware that the current age profile of the team is not entirely ideal, with half (12) of the 24 senior players 29 years or older.

By comparison, there are only six players in that age bracket at Arsenal, five at Liverpool, eight at Man Utd and just one at Chelsea. The state of the Cityzens' team will be evaluated closer to the end of his deal next season and a final decision on whether or not to trigger the one-year option will then be made.

As things stand, however, Guardiola will leave Manchester in 2026.

Man City did consider replacements

The assertions that Man City never considered or talked to potential replacements have been emphatically dismissed by sources.

City did sound out potential successors such as Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim because of Guardiola's initial reluctance to commit his future to the club.

Talks with the incumbent manager didn't suddenly start a few days ago, they had been ongoing for months and the outcome was entirely up in the air until recently. The Premier League champions would have been foolish not to put succession plans in place.

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We also understand that club chiefs view Mikel Arteta as a 'dream target.' The Arsenal manager, of course, previously served as Guardiola's right-hand man and is seen as the ideal successor.

That said, this is a topic for the future. Arteta, who penned an Arsenal extension in September, has not been approached by City, but they are keeping a close eye on his situation at the Emirates.

Guardiola eyes England job

Regarding the future of Guardiola after Man City, it is too early to make definitive statements. However, we can confirm that the 53-year-old is intrigued by international management and the potential opportunity to coach England.

Thomas Tuchel is set to start in his role as Three Lions boss on January 1, 2025, but he only penned a short-term contract with the FA until the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Should the German leave the England job after the tournament, Guardiola would be interested in replacing him. Should the FA decide to keep him, however, Guardiola would have the opportunity to simply remain at City for another season or seek out different opportunities.