Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol discusses Pep Guardiola departure as exit talk intensifies | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has paid tribute to Pep Guardiola after the Catalan’s recent departure from the Etihad Stadium.

The comments come in the context of a summer in which Gvardiol’s own future at the Etihad Stadium remains unresolved, with each of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid understood to be interested in the 24-year-old as he enters the final two years of his current contract.

Manchester City have made clear they want to retain the defender, though Gvardiol has himself indicated that he will assess his situation after the FIFA World Cup.

City are navigating a summer of major change after Guardiola brought the curtain down on an illustrious managerial spell at the Etihad Stadium, with Enzo Maresca having agreed a three year deal in principle to replace the Catalan as manager.

Everyone who worked with Pep became a better player & person, says Gvardiol

Whilst on international duty with Croatia ahead of this summer’s marquee tournament across the Atlantic, Gvardiol gave a peak through the curtain into what Guardiola meant to those fortunate enough to work under him.

“Unfortunately, he decided his journey (at Manchester City) would end. Since he arrived, we’ve all seen how many trophies he lifted,” Gvardiol said on Guardiola, as quoted by The Croatian on X.

“We learned a lot. Everyone who had chance to work with him became a better player and person. I’m sure Manchester City will choose the right new coach and continue where we left off.”

The observation that every player who worked under Guardiola became better as a person as well as a footballer echoes what has been said by virtually every player to pass through his dressing room – from Ilkay Gundogan, who described Guardiola as “a mentor, a leader and also a friend” to the recently departed Bernardo Silva, who called him “my father of football”.

What does Guardiola’s exit mean for Gvardiol’s City future?

The timing of Guardiola’s exit adds a layer of complexity to Gvardiol’s situation. The former Manchester City manager was among those most vocal about wanting to keep the Croatian at the Etihad Stadium for the seasons to come, having benefitted from the defender’s versatility across centre-half and left-back since 2023.

Whether Maresca shares that conviction in equal measure and communicates it to Gvardiol directly may prove decisive in determining how the situation unfolds after the FIFA World Cup.

Maresca will likely want to sit down with Gvardiol to assess his commitment to the club’s future project, though it remains to be seen how soon such talks can take place given the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

City have already tabled a lucrative, long-term contract extension to the defender as director of football Hugo Viana remains eager to secure a resolution before the summer transfer window reaches its critical phase.

Gvardiol’s confidence that the club will “choose the right new coach and continue where we left off” is an encouraging sign – but his deliberate ambiguity over his own future suggests the coming weeks could be telling.