Manchester City ‘key members’ hold damning Pep Guardiola exit belief as departure date mooted | OneFootball

Some ‘key members’ within Manchester City reportedly believe next summer may be time for the club to finally move on from their historic relationship with Pep Guardiola.

The Catalan coach is continuing to insist that he is yet to make a decision on his future at the Etihad Stadium, as he enters into the final weeks and months of his current Manchester City contract signed back in November 2022.

Guardiola continues to be pressed for answers and hints on where his career lies beyond the end of the ongoing season, however reporters in the media continue to be met by silence from the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

One direction that appears to have already been shutdown by the 53-year-old is the possibility of becoming a Director of Football within the game, with Pep Guardiola recently telling reporters, “No! I would criticise my manager a lot!

“I can’t (become a Director of Football)! I like the grass, honestly, I like the green there. To be there (in the stands) with a tie, I don’t like,” he continued.

But could there realistically be a scenario where the upcoming summer presents the most natural opportunity for those at Manchester City to take on the most significant managerial change in the club’s history?

That is the suggestion according to new information from Football Transfers’ Steve Kay, who reports that ‘key members’ within Manchester City’s hierarchy believe it may be time for Pep Guardiola to move on, to allow for a manager who can ‘commit to a long-term rebuild’.

It is explained that with the core of City’s squad now in their 30s, some board members at the Etihad Stadium feel the need for a manager willing to commit to a three-year plan in order to rebuild and keep the club competing at the very highest level.

There has been widespread talk of a possible extension for one more season for Pep Guardiola, however some executives are said to be concerned that a short-term renewal would ‘only delay the inevitable overhaul’ that Manchester City needs.

Regardless of the decision taken by Manchester City and Pep Guardiola on the Catalan’s future, the report states that the club’s leadership is clear in its vision: City must retain its place among Europe’s elite by evolving its squad.

The latest official comment from Pep Guardiola on his Manchester City future saw the Catalan tactician tell reporters during a recent press conference, “When I take it (a decision), I will inform you, for sure, 100 per cent.

“That’s why there is no news, and that’s why I don’t have to add absolutely anything else,” Guardiola explained.

Beyond Pep Guardiola, it remains somewhat uncertain as to who Manchester City feel as though could be a realistic successor to the legendary manager, although there is a belief in various quarters that Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso could be of interest.

The Spaniard’s philosophy and track record in the Bundesliga would tick plenty of boxes from the viewpoint of City decision makers, after it was reported that Ruben Amorim – who has been appointed by United as their next head coach – had a differing style to that of Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain.