Why Pep Guardiola quitting Man City has 'extremely strong chance' despite 2027 contract

Pep Guardiola's future at Manchester City is under scrutiny despite the Catalan coach being under contract until 2027, and it has been suggested he could depart sooner than expected

Pep Guardiola's contract appears to be no guarantee that he will stay at Manchester City until 2027. It has been suggested his latest deal may have been put in place with a hope to avoid further scrutiny in what could prove to be his final season in charge.

Guardiola signed a two-year extension back in November 2024. But the Catalan coach has 'an extremely strong chance' of departing come the summer, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

It is claimed that the club expected Guardiola to only sign a one-year deal until 2026, rather than the two-year agreement he eventually made.

There is a possibility it was 'a clever and sensible decision' to alleviate pressure on a final season at the Etihad. Although the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona boss has always seen out his contracts in the past.

The claims follow news that there has been increasing conviction among rival Premier League bosses that Guardiola is in his final season, as per The Times. One figure reportedly told their executives that they are sure the 55-year-old will make his exit.

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Doubts over Guardiola seeing out the full term of his contract were heightened when it emerged last month that ex-City coach Enzo Maresca had told Chelsea chiefs he had spoken to the club on multiple occasions about replacing Guardiola.

Maresca has since departed the Blues, but Guardiola provided a spiky response when asked about the Italian's exit from Stamford Bridge, with the implication of a possible succession.

Guardiola said: “Oh my God. I have a contract. I’ve said it a thousand million times. I know you are bored of me, 10 years here. You want [me to leave]? Yeah, I’m pretty sure of that."

Since then, Xabi Alonso has also left his job with Real Madrid, and could become an option for City should they need a new boss.

Premier League legend Guardiola has previously revealed he would take a break from management upon leaving City. Guardiola has won six Premier League titles in nine seasons in the division.

"After my contract with City, I'm going to stop. I am sure. I don't know if I'm going to retire, but I'm going to take a break," Guardiola told ESPN Brasil in May 2025.

"How I want to be remembered, I don't know. I want people to remember me however they want.

"All coaches want to win so we can have a memorable job, but I believe that the fans of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have had fun watching my teams play. I don't think we should ever live thinking about whether we're going to be remembered."

Guardiola will be speaking to the media at lunchtime on Tuesday ahead of City's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at home to Newcastle United on Wednesday evening.

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