Pep is going nowhere
Pep Guardiola has agreed a contract extension to remain at Manchester City beyond the end of the current season, ending speculation that the club will need to find a replacement in the months ahead.
Despite insisting he intended to stay at the club beyond the end of the 2020/21 campaign, his failure to agree a new deal at City had prompted reports that the club were monitoring Mauricio Pochettino and Julian Nagelsmann as potential replacements.
However, it has now been reported that Guardiola moved to resolve the situation during the international break, committing his long-term future to City.
Precisely how long the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager intends to remain at the Etihad Stadium is as yet unclear, but reports suggest the new deal will run for at least a further two years – making his spell in charge of City by far his longest period at a single club.
Pep Guardiola agrees contract extension with Manchester City. Likely to be more than one-year.
— Paul Hirst (@hirstclass) November 19, 2020
The 49-year-old is City’s most successful manager, winning six major trophies during his time in charge of the club. He will hope to end his nine-year wait for a Champions League title in his remaining years at City, who have never won the competition.
A report by the Daily Mail suggests his extension increases the likelihood that City will be his final managerial job before embarking on international management.
With City seemingly coming close to signing Lionel Messi over the summer, news of Guardiola prolonging his stay in England will inevitably fuel speculation that a renewed move for the Argentine is on the cards.
Messi reluctantly agreed to stay with Barcelona before the start of the new season, but is eligible to talk to other clubs about the possibility of a move in January.
