Pep Guardiola is set to extend his tenure as manager of Manchester City until 2025, according to reports, dashing Jurgen Klopp's tongue-in-cheek hopes that his rival would take a long break from football.
Speculation had risen as to how long the Spaniard would remain in charge of the current Premier League champions, but The Athletic journalist David Ornstein claimed on Tuesday that he had agreed to put pen to paper on a new deal after a trip to Abu Dhabi, that will see him remain at the Etihad until 2025.
Ornstein Tweeted: "Pep Guardiola has agreed a new contract at Man City. Not yet signed but now in place + understood to commit 51yo Spaniard to club until 2025 via two-year deal. Sealed on visit to #MCFC owners in Abu Dhabi."
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It means that Guardiola's football rivalry with Klopp - who is under contract until 2026 - will carry on for potentially another three years as Liverpool and Manchester City continue to go toe-to-toe for major honours, both domestically and in Europe.
The Reds' German manager was recently asked by reporters about the prospect of Guardiola walking away from the Premier League next summer and if he would miss their rivalry. His response was typically entertaining.
Klopp said: “Who told you that? I didn’t know that. I would prefer Pep is doing a sabbatical for four years or something! 100%! It wouldn’t be any easier but at least a bit more open. Actually my preferred solution would have been that he had a sabbatical the last four years! Honestly, it’s a joke.
“No! (I wouldn’t miss the rivalry). He’s told me that when we are not in charge of any club anymore, we will sit together and have a glass of wine, even though I am not a big wine-drinker. We could do it when I am working and when he’s off, I would visit him. We could have that talk, no problem.”
Given the reports that have surfaced today, Klopp will have another three years to fine-tune his wine-tasting pallet before he can take Guardiola up on his hospitality offer.
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