“We are hearing louder than ever before” – David Ornstein reveals latest around Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Talk surrounding a potential exit for Pep Guardiola from the Etihad Stadium in the upcoming summer is continuing to develop in various circles.

Speculation around Guardiola’s future has intensified over recent weeks, despite the Manchester City manager under contract until the summer of 2027. While the last extension at the club was presented as a clear commitment to a longer-term project, the agreement may not be as definitive as it first appeared.

There is a growing belief in various quarters – as reported – that this season could represent Pep Guardiola’s final campaign in English football, with some suggesting that rival managers, coaches, and executives are openly discussing the likelihood of Guardiola stepping away.

Manchester City themselves are seemingly operating with contingency planning in mind, as senior figures at the Etihad Stadium have been linked with sounding out potential successors – a process consistent with the club’s long-standing preference for strategic succession.

Now, speaking during a fresh appearance on Sky Sports News, The Athletic’s David Ornstein issued his latest thoughts combined with information surrounding the future of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

“I think there’s an extremely strong chance of Pep Guardiola leaving at the end of the season. He signed a two-year deal, but even inside City, high up, there was an expectation that was going to be one year, right until the moment pretty much it was announced,” said Ornstein.

“And there’s a feeling in the industry that the two years was to buy time. Of course, he could see out that period, but it also was possibly a clever and sensible decision that was designed to maybe try and keep some of the pressure and scrutiny off of him in this season,” he continued.

“That hasn’t really worked because City have been talking to potential candidates if he does leave. I reported heavily on Enzo Maresca holding conversations with Manchester City or individuals on their behalf, that he was bound by his contract to inform Chelsea about. And it all emerged around the time of his departure. There’s a very strong feeling among people I speak to in the industry that Maresca – who is highly thought of at City, worked there before – is absolutely going to figure as and when a change is made, and possibly that’s in the summer.”

Offering further thoughts surrounding possible successors, David Ornstein said, “It would be remiss of any big club not to think about Xabi Alonso, even if he was in a job let alone when he’s out of one given what we’ve seen of his early career so far.

“Cesc Fabregas is turning heads with his work at Como and building a really good reputation – I don’t know if he’s in the City frame, but I’d be surprised if people like him weren’t.

“Vincent Kompany [is] doing a brilliant job at Bayern Munich and has the City background as well. And you speak to different people and they seem to pick up on different things and different candidates for this role.”

Concluding on the matter, Ornstein explained, “The one thing we’re hearing louder than ever before is people well-placed think Guardiola is leaving; we’re not saying that cast-iron, we’re not saying it’s guaranteed, and he’s got previous for making his decision late, changing his mind when he’s been of the persuasion to go.

“So you can’t say it with absolute certainty. But the way the season is going, things don’t feel completely right; maybe Rodri’s comments kind of belie that – one of the most eloquent, mature, educated, impressive guys, Ballon d’Or winner talking in a pretty ludicrous way with that [referee] conspiracy.

“Nobody is denying Pep Guardiola could be on his way in the summer, even when it’s put to him in news conferences, he’s fed up with the question. But he’s never boxed it off completely and said, ‘I’m staying’, he’s got the chance to. We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s a possibility.”

If Pep Guardiola does ultimately decide to leave the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City would face a defining moment, not only in terms of leadership within their first-team set-up, but also in terms of sporting direction.

The club’s current squad evolution, contract decisions, and transfer strategy could all be shaped by clarity over the manager’s future, with much of that thinking and decision-making handed to Portuguese sporting director Hugo Viana.

For now, Pep Guardiola continues to keep his position open-ended, refusing to entirely shut down speculation outright, with his next opportunity to speak to the media coming ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg against Newcastle United this week.

But as industry voices grow louder and Manchester City’s contingency planning becomes increasingly visible through media reporting, the prospect of a summer decision is now firmly embedded in the narrative surrounding the Etihad Stadium.