Sources: Talks to begin over new contract for Manchester City’s most important figure

Sources: Talks to begin over new contract for Manchester City’s most important figure

Manchester City are hoping to begin talks with manager Pep Guardiola this summer about extending his stay at the Etihad Stadium, sources have told HITC Football.

 

However, the sources also confirmed that, whilst talks are set to begin, they would not expect a decision to come from Pep Guardiola until towards the end of the year.

 

Guardiola’s current deal runs to 2025 and Manchester City sources insist they have ‘zero’ worries about him leaving before this date, this is despite the almost inevitable links with Barcelona, who will part company with current head coach Xavi this summer.

 

The Spaniard began his managerial career at Barcelona at the club’s B side before being given the first team reins and he won two Champions League trophies in four extraordinary seasons.

 

Manchester City v Sheffield United – Premier League

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

City keen not to put pressure on Guardiola

 

 

Since his move to the club in 2016, after the Spaniard’s spell at Bayern Munich, Guardiola has revolutionised the club and the city itself with the Citizens winning their first-ever Champions League crown last season.

 

As well as this, he has won five Premier League titles since his move to the club, with only Chelsea in 2016/2017 and Liverpool in 2019/2020 being able to wrestle the title away from the Spaniard.

 

Because of the success he has had with the club, sources have confirmed that City will allow Guardiola to take the time he needs and make the decision that is best for him and his future.

 

53-year-old Guardiola is about to enter his eighth season at the club and many are shocked he has remained at City, having spent just four years and three-years respectively in charge of former clubs Barca and Bayern.

 

Guardiola on his future

 

In a rare moment of honesty, the Spaniard, back in November, admitted that he could well stay at the club for many more seasons.

 

“I have energy. I’m not going to answer,” he told The Guardian. “One year and a half is a lot of time in football. I arrived here with long hair and look what happened.”

 

Asked if remaining beyond his current deal was a possibility, Guardiola said: “Yeah of course – I can leave tomorrow [too]. I would have loved the team that won 100 points [in the 2017-18 season] to stay eternally. At all the clubs this happens.”

 

 

However, one factor could be potential interest from former club Barcelona but Deco, speaking to EsporteE denied any talks with the 53-year-old.

 

“We are not speaking to any manager, really. Zero talks,” Deco said. “Pep Guardiola is under contract with another club, I’d never speak about him – it’d be disrespectful for Man City.”