Pep Guardiola appears to be on his way out of Manchester City this summer, with former assistant Enzo Maresca the favourite to succeed him in the City dug-out.
It’s being reported as an ‘open secret’ with some City sponsors being told of Guardiola’s planned departure, despite him telling everyone for the last year that he was to see out his contract until 2027.
He’s reiterated ‘there’s only one year left’ on a number of occasions in the past few months; however, new reports claim City are now starting to get ready for a big transition of power at the end of this season.
It is believed an announcement will be made after their final Premier League game, a time that would give them the opportunity to celebrate potentially a title winner for a seventh time in eight years if they get it. Maresca worked under Guardiola at City before then taking Leicester and, most recently, Chelsea.
He is the name that the Blues are said to want as they look for their new manager, with his possession-based tactical approach and inside knowledge of the club likely to play a big part in this decision.
The Italian stated recently that he was ‘ready’ to get back to work again and stated: “I feel ready for the next step”. Guardiola has been the manager at the Etihad for a decade and guided City to multiple Premier League crowns and cup competitions, as well as the club’s first Champions League win in 2023.
He is aiming for a treble for the second time in three years and can win the FA Cup and Premier League depending on the remaining few weeks of the season.
