One of football’s biggest mysteries is trying to discover Pep Guardiola’s plans beyond the 2024/2025 season.
There have been several pieces of speculation around Guardiola’s future; emphasising the lack of clarity around his final decision after his contract at Manchester City expires in 2025.
Journalist Paul Hirst claimed over a week ago that in his opinion, the chances of Guardiola extending his contract at City were “50-50.”
Hirst revealed that if he was asked the same question at the end of last season, he would claim the probability of the £378,846-a-week man leaving the club lay at 70 per cent.
In July, Pep Guardiola did not rule out a contract extension while stressing that the decision should be the best for not just him but for the players and the club as a whole.
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Guardiola expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, emphasising that the 2024/2025 campaign is the ultimate priority at present.
The Catalan tactician would likely be more focused on the start of his ninth season at Manchester City rather than his future.
However, at the back of his mind, Guardiola will perhaps be contemplating on his plans for the long term — whether they lie at the Etihad Stadium or elsewhere.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Alan Shearer claimed he has been told that Pep Guardiola intends to manage England after leaving Manchester City next year, with Lee Carsley being the interim manager until he decides to step in.
In July, it was claimed that the FA’s plans to appoint Guardiola involved keeping an interim manager like Lee Carsley in charge until next year when the Spaniard was ready to take over the reins as Three Lions boss.
Gary Lineker initially claimed: “I did see an interview a few days ago with Pep Guardiola where he was asked in a press conference if he would be interested in England. And you know, mostly people put that away but he certainly didn’t. And it made me think the way he was talking; I thought he actually might be interested in this job. And the fact that they’ve appointed Carsley as an interim coach and the fact Pep’s contract ends at the end of the season. However, I’m maybe having a little bit of wishful thinking here!”
Shearer replied: “There are a few people or a couple of people that have actually said that to me but I don’t know, maybe it’s just a rumour, but hey, you never know, which is why I think it’s a wise decision for them to give it to Carsley and just take their time and see what happens. I mean, they’ve got a game in a month’s time, less? So I think it would have been really difficult to appoint someone in that short amount of time. So this gives them time to sit back and see and look at the bigger picture.”
Pep Guardiola will need to block out the noise from England rumours
As England are in search of a successor to Gareth Southgate, Pep Guardiola’s name will be touted as long as he decides not to agree to extend his contract at Manchester City.
Last month, the FA’s chances of appointing Guardiola were considered “remote” — partly due to the fact they would find it difficult to pay his £20 million annual salary.
For the time being, the Spaniard will need to be dialled in towards helping Manchester City win silverware in the upcoming season rather than being distracted by the rumours around him managing the Three Lions.
With Guardiola being a serial winner, he will likely find a way to do so.
But even then, it would be a challenge for even a manager as professional as Pep Guardiola due to the England job being one of the most-discussed managerial appointments in world football.
As long as Guardiola stays as focused as ever, City’s chances of attaining more success in the 2024/2025 campaign will further increase.
