Guardiola wants to QUIT Man City after being ‘forced’ to sign new contract

Robin Bairner

• 21 Feb 2025 08:30 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola finds himself at the centre of stunning claims regarding his position at the Etihad Stadium following the latest catastrophe to befall his side.

City were knocked out of the Champions League in midweek by Real Madrid, crumbling to a 3-1 defeat in a limp manner after suffering a dramatic 3-2 loss in the first leg to Los Blancos.

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Eliminated from Europe and foundering uncharacteristically in the Premier League, the Etihad outfit find themselves in a period of crisis.

This comes after Guardiola was seriously considering leaving the club in the summer.

The expectation was that the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss would announce his departure in the summer of 2025, when his contract was due to expire, yet he performed a shock U-turn and signed a new deal in November. He is, therefore, under contract at the Etihad until 2027.

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Guardiola wanted England job

Revelations have been made in Spain, however, that he signed the new deal under pressure. Instead, he really wanted the England job, which has since been taken by Thomas Tuchel.

“Guardiola did not think about Manchester City last summer,” Josep Pedrerol claimed on El Chiringuito. “He was thinking about the England national team.

“It’s an extension that he didn’t want. It was involuntary, almost forced. He signed because it was the only thing he had.

“He wants to leave Manchester.”

Certainly, Guardiola has exhibited all the signs of a man feeling the strain in recent months. Following an incredible 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League, when he watched his side throw away a three-goal lead late on, he appeared for his post-match interview with scratch marks on his head.

His side’s form has stabilised a little since then but after being so close to leaving City just a matter of months ago, there are still very real questions over Guardiola’s future.