Pep Guardiola ‘firmly minded’ on Manchester City departure date but will remain in charge next season

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is increasingly unlikely to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium beyond his current contract.

Suggestions that the 52 year-old could quit the job after winning the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City have been quickly quashed, however the Catalan’s recently signed contract could be his last with the Sky Blues.

Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension in November, extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium until 2025 and potentially seeing the Manchester City boss enjoy a nine-year stay in East Manchester.

The Catalan guided the Blues to a maiden Champions League trophy on Saturday night, as Manchester City beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul to become the first team since Manchester United in 1999 to complete the treble.

City, who had already won the Premier League title and Emirates FA Cup this season, claimed their 14th trophy of the Guardiola era this weekend.

Rodri’s strike in the 68th minute and a series of impressive saves by Ederson helped Manchester City to European glory, as City concluded their European campaign as unbeaten.

Guardiola, who moved to the Etihad Stadium from Bayern Munich in 2016, has won five Premier League titles in six years, as well as also winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup on several occasions.

The Blues will have the opportunity to win both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup as a result of victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League Final.

Saturday’s famous win also booked Manchester City’s place in the upcoming extended FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, potentially Guardiola’s last competition with the Blues, as a new report has suggested that the Catalan isn’t planning to further extend his contract.

Jamie Jackson reports that Guardiola plans to end his stay at Manchester City in 2025, with the former Barcelona manager ‘firmly minded’ to leave the Etihad Stadium in two years.

The City manager has already ‘all but decided’ that he will end his time in charge of Manchester City in two years after a nine-year spell at the club.

Manchester City have not given up hope that Guardiola could choose to stay beyond 2025, however will respect his decision if he chooses to leave, claims Rob Dawson.

Guardiola has spent significantly longer at City then at Bayern Munich or Barcelona, where the 52 year-old previously managed.

The City boss has been linked with an international job in the past, with Brazil interested in Guardiola earlier this year.