Pep Guardiola plans to leave Manchester City when his contract expires in 2025 - but has changed his mind over his next move.
The City boss, 52, is intent on walking away from the Etihad Stadium in two seasons' time after a glittering nine-year stint, during which he's elevated the club to becoming kings of Europe for the first time. Saturday's narrow 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final secured an historic treble for City and in the immediate aftermath, Guardiola had a chat with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak about his future.
While Guardiola is determined to keep stocking up the Etihad trophy cabinet, especially since signing a contract extension last November, the Guardian report that he's planning to depart at the end of the 2024-2025 campaign. Previously, after managing in Spain, Germany and England, it was thought that the former Barcelona boss would like to coach in Italy.
Guardiola represented one of Italian football's biggest clubs, Roma, for a brief period during his playing career and had been keen to return to Serie A as a manager. But now the 52-year-old is believed to have changed his mind and will no longer venture back to Italy after leaving the blue side of Manchester.
Instead, going into international management is seen as the logical next step, with Guardiola already revealing as much in 2021. "The next step will be a national team, yes, if there's a chance," the ex-Bayern Munich boss confirmed.
"I must have a break, I need to stop to watch, learn from other players and maybe that is the road I will take. "I would like to coach at the Euros, a Copa America, a World Cup."
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Guardiola has also suggested that the Brazil job would take his fancy should the opportunity arise. "It is a fantastic national team," he affirmed amid speculation that the Brazilian football federation, the CBF, were looking to appoint him. "Brazil is always a strong candidate or the favourite." It always was and it will always be."
Brazilian legend Ronaldo even claims that his nation made a move for Guardiola prior to the World Cup in Qatar. As quoted by Catalan media, Ronaldo declared: "There was interest in Guardiola, it was discussed with Guardiola's coaching staff, but he preferred to renew the contract with Manchester City."
For now, though, Guardiola can't even think about next season amid the pandemonium of City's treble triumph, having also won the Premier League and FA Cup. "I don't have any energy to think about next season, it's impossible. We need a break, it's too long," he confessed, criticising the hectic club schedule.
"Our players have international games now. UEFA and FIFA, think about it. The Premier League finished two or three weeks ago, now people have to come back. It's too much."
