Manchester City could be approaching the end of an era, with talkSPORT reporting that several well placed sources believe Pep Guardiola will leave the Etihad this summer.
Although City insiders point to Guardiola having one year left on his contract, the expectation around the club appears to be shifting. After ten extraordinary years, 19 trophies and a standard of dominance rarely seen in English football, the suggestion is that his departure could come this week.
Guardiola’s reaction after Saturday’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea only intensified speculation. He reportedly walked out of interviews with talkSPORT and TNT Sports when asked about his future, a response that felt significant given the timing and context.
Maresca lined up for Etihad role
The major development is that Enzo Maresca has already agreed to succeed Guardiola, according to talkSPORT. The Italian left Chelsea in January and, having previously worked at City as part of Guardiola’s coaching structure, represents a familiar and logical successor.
Maresca is understood not to have left Chelsea with the City job already guaranteed. The report states that the opportunity was not lined up until the March international break.
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That detail matters. It suggests City’s succession planning has accelerated in recent months, rather than being a long settled arrangement.
Guardiola’s legacy already secure
Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016 after spells with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Since then, he has transformed City into English football’s dominant force, winning six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups and the Champions League.
Asked whether his tenure represented greatness, Guardiola said: “Yeah, of course, 19 titles in 10 years is not bad.
“They know they don’t need to wait until I’m leaving, they know I have been fun. So 19 titles – fight for 20 in 10 years – it’s not bad, honestly.”
It was vintage Guardiola, understated on the…
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