Pep Guardiola to extend contract at Manchester City or join England national team? Report makes bold claim

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could sign a one-year contract extension with the Premier League champions amid reports of being approached by the English Football Association in a bid to become England’s next manager.

According to a report in The Telegraph, Guardiola has been approached by three national team federations in the last few months, with one of them being the English FA. Guardiola last extended his contract in 2022 which will keep him at the club till 2025. England are in search of a new manager since Gareth Southgate’s exit following the Euro 2024 final in July, which they lost to Spain. Lee Carsley is managing England on an interim basis currently.

Also read | Pep Guardiola's Man City exit looks more likely than ever — here's why

Guardiola, however, is leaning towards another extension with City which would be a short-term deal. The report adds that the Spaniard has also shown interest in becoming the head coach of a national team and that salary will not be an issue.

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No certain timeframe

There is no certain timeframe as to when Guardiola could decide his future. He could “decide next week, next month, or next year on his course of action,” states the report.

Should Guardiola sign a one-year contract extension, he would complete a decade of managing Manchester City. He joined Manchester City as a manager in 2016, and since then, he has led them to six Premier League titles as well as a Champions League trophy.

Guardiola to go on a sabbatical? 

City have won four consecutive Premier League titles and are bidding to win a fifth title in a row but there is also a possibility that Guardiola could leave City after his current contract ends next year, and go on a sabbatical. He had gone on a sabbatical after his stint with Barcelona ended in 2012.

He moved to New York, where he spent a year. He attended economic lectures at Columbia University, spent some quality time with family, and also improved his skills in golf.

Guardiola had spoken on his future ahead of City’s 3-2 win over Fulham in the Premier League recently. “I fell in love since the first day I was here. What is going to happen [with his future] is going to happen," he had said.

“I’m not going to talk about this subject. What is going to happen is going to happen,” he added when being further asked for clarity on his future.