Florian Wirtz has been one of the biggest talking points of the summer transfer window.
Wirtz was Pep Guardiola’s top target to replace Kevin De Bruyne at Man City ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, with the legendary boss even getting involved in the negotiations, which is something he rarely does.
Man City have since signed Rayan Cherki after the Bayer Leverkusen star turned down the chance to sign for the Manchester club, with the midfielder now very close to joining their Premier League rivals Liverpool as part of a record-breaking deal.
Things could have been a lot different for Man City in the race for Wirtz had Guardiola simply given the German the right answer to a question the 22-year-old asked.
Pep Guardiola could not guarantee his Man City future to Florian Wirtz
Guardiola is out of contract at Man City in 2027, having signed a new deal in November, and the general feeling is that this will be the legendary manager’s last year at the Etihad Stadium.
Wirtz would have been signing with the Manchester club for the long term had he agreed to move to City, and as a result, the German wanted to know if Guardiola would be there for the majority of it, which Paul Joyce says the Catalan could not guarantee.
“He could sell a vision to Wirtz of stepping into the void created by the departure of Kevin De Bruyne and of becoming the hub around whom City would seek to get back on their perch after a rare trophyless campaign,” Joyce wrote for The Telegraph about Wirtz and Guardiola.
“Yet City’s biggest attraction is arguably Guardiola himself and the chance to work under one of the greatest coaches of the modern era. With that in mind, what happened next depends on who you believe.
“City, the club that pays Erling Haaland a large fortune and lavished £100million on Jack Grealish before casting him into the shadows, claimed they were pulling out of the race for Wirtz’s signature because of the cost involved, which they estimated to be £250million split between a £126million fee and a five-year contract.
“Alternatively, several sources, including those in Germany, have indicated that Wirtz enquired about how long Guardiola would remain in charge given his contract is due to expire in 2027.
“According to the German publication Bild, the Catalan was not emphatic and so it was Wirtz who turned down City, not the other way round.”
Had Guardiola informed Wirtz he would be at Man City for many more years, the German could now be on his way to the Etihad Stadium; however, the legendary figure’s time in the Premier League is close to its end.
The latest on Pep Guardiola’s Man City future
Guardiola has been rebuilding his Man City squad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, which the Spaniard will use to push for the final trophies he could win in Manchester ahead of leaving in 2027.
The 54-year-old has not made a clear statement that his time will be up when his current contract expires; however, last month, Guardiola said he will take a break after Man City, which is a hint that he is planning this for 2027.
The Man City boss will likely move onto the international scene then, as Guardiola has dreamed about coaching the Brazil national team, and that may be available whenever the Spaniard chooses to return.
Things could change over the next two years as the 54-year-old still seems motivated to help Man City win trophies, but that outcome seems unlikely at present.
