A key member of Pep Guardiola’s staff is set to leave the club but will Pep follow him out of Manchester City? | OneFootball

Arguably the hottest topic in football right now surrounds the future of Pep Guardiola. Ever since David Ornstein reported for The Athletic that it was believed that this season could be Pep Guardiola’s last at Manchester City speculation has surrounded Guardiola’s future. It does appear that people are looking for clues that point towards an answer on if Guardiola will be City’s manager next season.

Sam Lee has now reported for The Athletic that fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura is set to leave City at the end of this season. Buenaventura has been at Pep Guardiola’s side throughout his managerial career. The winds of change are blowing through City. But does Buenaventura’s imminent exit indicate that Guardiola is set to leave? That isn’t immediately clear as Sam Lee’s report points out.

Lorenzo Buenaventura is set to leave Manchester City at the end of this season.

Sam Lee has reported for The Athletic that Manchester City’s long-time fitness coach, Lorenzo Buenaventura, is set to leave the club at the end of this season. Furthermore, Lee reports that Manchester City’s goalkeeping coach, Xabi Mancisidor, is also set to depart City. Lorenzo Buenaventura has been a vital member of Pep Guardiola’s staff throughout Guardiola’s managerial career. He has worked with Guardiola over the past 15 years at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.

Sam Lee’s report also states that Pep Guardiola is highly motivated and in good spirits, given the strong way his new-look Manchester City side has finished this season. However, Lee adds that sources in several departments at City expect Guardiola to call time on his spell as Manchester City manager at the end of this season.

There is a lot to break down in Sam Lee’s new report but change is happening at City.

First things first, Lorenzo Buenaventura leaving City is a big loss for the club. Buenaventura has been City’s fitness coach throughout his spell at the club. In terms of knowing what Pep Guardiola needs and wants from his fitness staff, Buenaventura knows that intimately. If Pep Guardiola does see out the final year of his contract as Manchester City manager, he will have to do so with a new fitness coach and one that he isn’t familiar with.

The bit that sticks out in Sam Lee’s report is that Pep Guardiola remains highly motivated. Guardiola is enjoying the rise of his new-look City side at the back end of this season. Guardiola has seemed energised throughout this season. Watching Guardiola’s demeanour it is hard to see him leaving Manchester City. Especially with his new-look team looking so close to being the finished article. It now remains to be seen if Lorenzo Buenaventura’s impending departure changes the equation surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future.

Lorenzo Buenaventura is set to leave Manchester City at the end of this season. Buenaventura has been alongside Pep Guardiola throughout his managerial career. It remains to be seen if Buenaventura’s departure is a sign of what is coming in terms of Guardiola leaving City. Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t. What isn’t in doubt is that Guardiola remains highly motivated. Perhaps that is the biggest indicator of what the future holds for the City manager.