“I spoke about that in the past” – Pep Guardiola coy about formal talks over Manchester City future | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has declined to offer fresh clarity on his future at the club, insisting he has addressed the subject on many previous occasions.

The 55-year-old is contracted at Manchester City until the end of the 2026-27 campaign, having signed a two-and-a-half year deal in November 2024 midway through a season he deemed his most challenging period in management.

However, City executives have recently moved to formally approach Guardiola over whether he intends to see out the final year of his current deal – with director of football Hugo Viana and co understood to be planning for all possible outcomes as the business end of the season approaches.

Guardiola: I have spoken about my future in the past

Speaking in a press conference in the days leading to Manchester City’s 4-0 drubbing of Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final, Guardiola was asked whether anyone within the club had sought clarification from him on his future plans.

The City manager was characteristically guarded in his response. “I spoke about that in the past, yeah,” Guardiola said.

Pressed further on whether the club had directly asked him for a decision, the 55-year-old added: “I spoke about that in the past many, many times.”

What is the wider context around Guardiola’s future?

Guardiola has been probed repeatedly on his future since the turn of the year, with a growing belief in Premier League circles that the Catalan is increasingly likely to part ways with City at the end of this season.

Enzo Maresca has been widely touted as the leading candidate to succeed Guardiola, with the former City assistant understood to have held preliminary discussions with the club’s hierarchy over taking the reins at the Etihad Stadium.

City are said to be relaxed over the situation and have contingency plans in place, with a five-candidate shortlist of potential replacements understood to have been drawn up should Guardiola confirm a departure this summer.

Despite the speculation, Guardiola has publicly maintained that he remains fully committed to the role and is excited by the prospect of continuing Manchester City’s rebuild under Viana with a young, hungry squad that has already accumulated 12 players who could depart in the summer.

Guardiola took charge of Manchester City in 2016 and has since led the club to six Premier League titles, a maiden UEFA Champions League crown and a historic domestic treble – cementing his status as the greatest manager in the club’s history. Whether his tenure extends into a 11th season remains the most pressing question hanging over the Etihad Stadium.