Pep Guardiola reveals what it will take for him to leave Manchester City | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has outlined his ambitions to manage at international level and represent a nation at the FIFA World Cup from the touchline, speaking in a new interview.

The 54-year-old put an end to speculation around his immediate future at the Etihad Stadium last season when he signed a new two-year deal that will keep him at Manchester City till the end of the 2026-27 season.

Guardiola was appointed Manchester City manager in 2016 and since taking over from Manuel Pellegrini, the Catalan has led the Blues to six Premier League titles, a maiden UEFA Champions League title and a historic treble amongst a plethora of other silverware on the domestic and global fronts.

When quizzed on why he has stayed put in the blue side of Manchester for what is now over nine seasons, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has often referenced the unwavering support from the Manchester City board as a crucial reason for the dedication he has shown to the 2023 treble winners.

However, whilst he has continued his journey at the Etihad Stadium, international management has always been of interest to Guardiola and the Spaniard has admitted that managing a National Team is on his bucket list for when he would depart City.

“I would love to be in a World Cup, in a Euro, a Copa America,” Guardiola said in an interview with Reuters.

“I have always thought about it. 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.”

The Manchester City manager is closing in on the signings of Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders as incoming sporting director Hugo Viana begins a major squad revamp to get City challenging on all fronts next term.

Guardiola and co are due to fly to the United States in a week as Manchester City compete in the FIFA Club World Cup before beginning their preparations for the 2025-26 season – having only managed a third-place Premier League finish this season after exiting the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage.

However, Guardiola isn’t interested to proving his doubters wrong and is only motivated to prove a point to his own self as Manchester City aim to challenge on all fronts next season. “It’s to prove myself that I can do it, I don’t want to have those feeling that last season left,” he added.

“Because when we win, the wine tastes better afterwards, you sleep better. I don’t know a manager who loses games and sleeps like a baby. It doesn’t happen. You’ve got to worry. That’s part of our life.”