Guardiola to QUIT Man City? Romano gives ‘100%’ response and reveals Saudi interest in €40m star

Robin Bairner

22 May 2024 11:00 BST
4 min read

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Pep Guardiola set the football world alight when he dropped a hint that he could soon leave Manchester City and now Fabrizio Romano has revealed the truth behind the former Barcelona head coach’s comments.

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Guardiola has led Man City to four successive Premier League titles, with the latest of these sealed on Sunday as his side overcame West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad to see off a concerted challenge from Arsenal.

But after that encounter, he suggested that his time at the club could be growing short.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying. We have talked with the club - my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during the season we will talk. But eight or nine years - we will see.”

Now Romano has outlined exactly what the thinking of the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach is.

“Guardiola will 100% stay until 2025 - he wants to stay there and win the Champions League again, so he will also be in the conversations about the summer transfer window at City,” Romano writes for the Daily Briefing.

© IMAGO - Pep Guardiola has lifted the Premier League title four times in a row

© IMAGO - Guardiola has hinted he could leave Man City soon

“For sure, Guardiola will be at City for one more season, but after that the future is absolutely open.

“The reality is that he is not discussing a new contract with City at the moment - the situation is really quiet, they are very happy together, and Guardiola’s full focus is on next season, but not beyond.

“Probably in 2025 they will discuss the future together, but as things stand there is a concrete chance to see Pep leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of next season.”

Ederson to Saudi Pro League

Romano has revealed that there is a strong possibility that Ederson will leave Man City in the summer, with interest coming from the Saudi Pro League.

“There is, from what I’m hearing, a concrete chance for the Brazilian goalkeeper to leave City in the summer transfer window,” Romano said.

Current ETV

Ederson

Man City

Ederson

Man City

ETV Range

€40.9M - €68.1M

“There is interest from Saudi and other clubs, so we could see some movement in the goalkeeper market this summer.

“We’ll have to see what happens with the likes of Jan Oblak, Aaron Ramsdale and Bento, and it looks like Ederson could also be part of this domino. Man City will leave it to the player, they are aware of Saudi interest and won’t stand in his way.”

Ederson’s last action on the field as a Man City player could be his angry substitution after being hit in the head during a Premier League clash against Tottenham.