Manchester City turn to Italy for potential Pep Guardiola successor | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City could turn to the Italian game for a potential long-term successor to Pep Guardiola, whenever the time comes for the Catalan’s exit.

The long-standing Manchester City head coach once again extended his stay at the Etihad Stadium, this time taking his spell as the club’s greatest-ever manager beyond the decade mark and through until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Having won everything available to him, and multiple times in the case of some of England’s major trophies, Pep Guardiola is now facing a fresh challenge of rebuilding the squad that has conquered so much of the game, fresh off the back of his worst season as City coach.

Failing to win a single major trophy for the first time since his debut season as City manager in 2016/17, club officials acted fast to ensure that the club could seriously attempt to return to their competitive best at the earliest opportunity with four new summer signings.

And while the focus from the side of Pep Guardiola and his new-look backroom staff will no doubt centre around winning immediately, it seems as though the attentions within the club’s hierarchy have turned towards the longer-term future and the subject of a new manager.

That is according to the information of FootballTransfers’ Steve Kay, who reports that Manchester City are now eyeing Como’s Cesc Fàbregas as a candidate to succeed Guardiola, when the Catalan eventually leaves his post as Etihad Stadium head coach.

It is explained that the 38-year-old’s ‘tactical clarity, calm authority and deep understanding of positional football’ have impressed senior figures at Manchester City, who now view him as a ‘standout candidate’ in their long-term succession planning.

There is still said to be a growing acceptance within the Etihad that Guardiola’s time at City may be reaching a natural conclusion and the club are determined to ensure a smooth transition when that time comes.

Aside from the aforementioned traits of interest, the report also points towards Fabregas’ coaching vision, composure, communication skills, and leadership in building a winning culture at Como as elements that have left Manchester City’s hierarchy impressed.

The former Arsenal and Chelsea man is further claimed to be ‘someone who will understand the club’s tactical DNA and long-term ambitions’, while also being immensely familiar with Premier League football.

For now, it remains highly unknown as to what Pep Guardiola is thinking with regards to his own future, and judging from renewals of previous years, it is unlikely that any extension to his deal would come until well into his final year of contract.

However, one subject that has been made plain through various media commitments over the years, and as recently as this month, is Guardiola’s personal desire to manage at a major international tournament in future.

Speaking as part of a wide-ranging discussion with Reuters, the Manchester City tactician explained, “I’d love to be in a World Cup, in a Euro, a Copa America. I’ve always thought about it.”

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss continued, “But it depends on many, many things. If it happens, it’s fine. If it doesn’t happen, it’s more than fine as well.”

Such a desire also reaffirms Guardiola’s stance that Manchester City will be his final home in club football management, having told a media conference back in December 2024 of his lack of energy to coach another club side.

“I’m not going to manage another team,” he said. “I’m not talking about the long-term future, but what I’m not going to do is leave Manchester City, go to another country, and do the same thing as now.”

He added, “I wouldn’t have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no. Maybe a national team, but that’s different. I want to leave it and go and play golf, but I can’t [if he takes a club job]. I think stopping would do me good.”