“I will miss these nights” – Pep Guardiola drops Manchester City exit hint amid contract speculation | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dropped a potential hint over his club future as he enters the final 15 months of his current deal.

The Catalan has been heavily linked with a potential parting of ways with City at the end of the season – a year below his contract will expire in 2017.

Reliable quarters of the English press have relayed a growing belief in Premier League circles that executives at the Etihad Stadium are increasingly anticipating Guardiola to leave Manchester City this summer.

Club officials are believed to have formed a five candidate shortlist to replace Guardiola – comprising Enzo Maresca, Cesc Fabregas, Roberto De Zerbi, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso – as director of football Hugo Viana and club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak find a potent successor for Manchester City’s greatest-ever manager.

What has Pep Guardiola said on his Manchester City future?

There have been a flurry of reports in the English press linking Guardiola with a possible departure from the Etihad Stadium since December 2025.

Maresca, who was relieved of his duties as Chelsea head coach, is believed to have held preliminary talks with Manchester City officials on taking over from Guardiola when the Catalan parts ways with the Blues – whether that is this summer or at the end of his contract in 2027.

Guardiola has repeatedly brushed off talk of a premature exit from Manchester City when probed on his future in press conferences in recent months, insisting that he is under contract and is excited by the challenge of taking a new-look City side to back to silverware winning ways.

However, the 55-year-old is not expected by club officials to renew his contract beyond 2027 – by when the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager would have completed 11 years in Manchester.

Could Pep Guardiola leave Manchester City this summer?

In a recent sit-down with TNT Sports, Guardiola has commented on what he will miss about management when he does call it a day.

“I will miss not going to Camp Nou, I’ll miss Bayern Munich – hopefully we can go through and go there – and I will miss that, when I stop and retire,” the 55-year-old said. “I will miss these nights because they are so special. I’ll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it.

“Premier League, these stadiums. Champions League I will miss – but Fulham, Crystal Palace, Goodison Park – these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of- FA Cup! Against League One (teams). I like a lot! But one day, it will be over, right?”

A decision on whether Guardiola will honour the final year of his current Manchester City contract is expected to come at the end of the season, with club captain Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake all expected to leave the club.