Ruben Dias’s Manchester City future in doubt upon Pep Guardiola exit as agent receives instructions | OneFootball

The departure of Pep Guardiola from Manchester City has signalled the start of a new era, and some players are viewing the Catalan’s departure as a sign for them to reevaluate their long-term futures.

Ruben Dias was, in many ways, the final piece of Guardiola’s puzzle, and while the club had undoubtedly been excellent before the Portuguese defender arrived in 2020, they lacked the consistency and temperament to reach the final stages of the UEFA Champions League.

This changed in Dias’ first season at the Etihad Stadium, striking up an iconic partnership with a revived John Stones to help City reach the Champions League final – the first time Guardiola’s City had progressed beyond the quarter-final stage.

Dias made 50 appearances in his first season in Manchester, winning the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award and being named the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season.

Over the next three seasons, the 29-year-old established himself as one of the best defenders in world football and as a key part of Pep Guardiola’s plans, moving into City’s leadership group despite being relatively young and captaining the side for the first time in 2021.

The former Benfica man made over 175 appearances as Manchester City secured four consecutive Premier League titles and won a historic treble during the 2022/23 season, also winning many individual accolades during this period.

As happened to virtually all of City players, Ruben Dias’ form dipped in the 2024/25 season, but still managed to feature on 41 occasions during the campaign, at times playing with knocks.

Ruben Dias’ current situation and transfer opening

Manchester City would show their faith in him in summer 2025, as Dias signed a new four-year contract but perhaps buoyed by Pep Guardiola signing a two-year contract extension just a few months earlier.

The 2025/26 season would see a number of injury frustrations, picking up a problem against Chelsea in January and losing his place in the line-up, spending the final weeks of the season on the bench.

Now, according to fresh claims from Caught Offside, Ruben Dias is ‘unsettled’ in Manchester following the departure of Pep Guardiola, with his agent instructed to explore possible options for a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

Unsurprisingly, this has alerted Europe’s giants, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all monitoring the situation.

Dias’ most likely situation this summer

The side from the Spanish capital seem to be the most likely suitor for Dias, given their well-documented struggles in the centre of defence; Eder Militao blighted by injuries, Antonio Rudiger now 33, David Alaba leaving Madrid in the summer, and Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen failing to show the consistency required thus far.

With the World Cup due to kick off in a fortnight, it remains to be seen if Ruben Dias will look to sort his future before heading to North America, or if he will focus on representing his country until after the tournament ends.

Although he has slightly fallen away over the past two seasons, the Manchester City hierarchy will surely be keen to retain the defender’s services, or at least get an enormous transfer fee for Dias should he depart.