Pep Guardiola 'ready for new chapter' with Man City departure coming for two reasons

Pep Guardiola will step down as manager at the end of the season for personal reasons, it has been claimed.

Guardiola’s current contract is set to expire in June and he is yet to publicly make a decision about whether he will extend his stay or walk away. The 53-year-old has led City to six titles, one , two FA Cups and four Carabao Cups.

The Association in the summer as they searched for a replacement for , but chose after not getting an answer from the City boss. Guardiola swerved the question when asked about being approached for the England job recently. "Thomas Tuchel is the manager, so forget about it,” he said. , so the conversations I have are about Manchester City. This is what it is.”

Considering the , City’s director of football, who worked with Guardiola at and was key in bringing him to Manchester, many believe this could spell the end of Guardiola’s hugely successful spell.

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Guillem Balague, who has written a biography of Guardiola, has claimed on Radio 5 Live that Guardiola’s back surgery last year and the fact he doesn’t see his family regularly could sway his decision. Guardiola’s wife Cristina Serra comes and goes from Manchester, while one of his daughters lives in London.

Guardiola is now in his ninth season as City boss, the longest he has spent managing a single club, having only spent three years with and four with Barcelona. Having watched his long-term rival walk away from in the summer, the time could be right in June.

The Catalan was tight-lipped when addressing the situation recently. “I’m pretty sure the club had options when Txiki leaves and they have options when Pep will leave,” he said. “Sooner or later it is going to happen and they are prepared so it’s not going to be a surprise. They know I have to – every sport director or whatever, that’s why I’m here for many years – I want to be convinced it’s what’s best for the club.

“I will not delay any action knowing that I’m creating a problem for the club. If I feel I’m a problem for the club right now I will take a decision as quick as possible. But I don’t have that feeling, they understand the reasons I have. That’s why is the priority.”

Pressed further on what would influence his decision, Guardiola shot back sarcastically: "The weather. I'm waiting for it to change, and after I will take a decision."

Former City defender Nedum Onuoha . He said: “I don't expect him to stay, I'd love for him to stay though. He's been remarkable but he can't do the job forever. He'll want to leave the club in a good place for the long term where he'll be helping pick the successor. He'll know who he thinks is best to work in the environment that is needed at City to be successful going forward.”

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