Pep Guardiola hints at Man City exit as boss shares three options after departure

Posted Wednesday, December 11, 2024 by Express.co.uk

Pep Guardiola only recently signed a new Manchester City contract.

Pep Guardiola hints at Man City exit as boss shares three options after departure
Pep Guardiola has hinted at what he will do when he leaves Manchester City (Image: Getty)

Pep Guardiola has admitted that taking some time away from football will do him ‘good’ despite only recently penning a new contract with Manchester City. The six-time Premier League-winning head coach says he will not manage another club team when he departs the reigning champions.

In November, Guardiola dispelled intense speculation over his future by signing a one-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months. His previous deal had been due to expire at the end of the season.

But the Spaniard insists that he would actually prefer to quit football to move away and play golf. When he eventually leaves City, Guardiola says learn French and how to cook, and spend more time playing golf. While he says he does not have the energy to start a new project with another club, he has not ruled out managing a national team.

Speaking to Spanish chef Dani Garcia on the Desmontadito YouTube channel, Guardiola said: “I want to leave it and go and play golf but I can’t.

“A time will come when I feel it’s enough and I’ll definitely stop then. I’m not going to manage another team. I’m not talking about the long-term future but what I’m not going to do is leave Manchester City and go to another country to do the same thing as I am now.

“I wouldn’t have the energy to do so. I’m still here doing what I am today. But the thought of starting off somewhere else, with all the process of the training and so on... no, no, no! Maybe a national team but that’s different.

“I should stop, like these chefs that go to other countries, stop and see what we’ve done well and what we could do better and when you’re busy all day, every day you don’t have time to do that. I think stopping would do me good.”

He added: “I’m still young and when I stop, there’s several things I want to do. One of them is to learn French, dedicate my free time to myself so I can play golf and then begin to learn how to cook simple things.”

Guardiola's City have endured a tough start to the season and do not currently seem capable of challenging for the Premier League title. Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace saw them drop points again and they have fallen to fourth in the top-flight. League leaders Liverpool are eight points ahead of City and have played a game fewer.

City recently halted a remarkable seven-match winless run by beating Nottingham Forest 3-0 last week. They face a crunch Manchester derby against Manchester United next Sunday, and travel to Juventus in the Champions League tomorrow (Wednesday).