Fresh reports in Spain suggest Pep Guardiola has agreed to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season and take over at Manchester City.
Speculation over Guardiola’s future plans have made headlines
for months now, with the Catalan refusing to so far extend his contract
at Bayern, which expires at the end of the season.
And now prominent Spanish radio station Cadena COPE says
Guardiola wants a “change of scenery” and will move to the Premier
League, and specifically Manchester City.
[PAPER ROUND: City to offer £800,000-per week for Lionel Messi]
“Pep Guardiola will leave Bayern Munich at the end of this
season and will train Manchester City next season,” read the report.
“Guardiola has decided on a change of scenery. He considers his
time in Germany will end on 30 June after three seasons and, therefore,
fulfil one of his wishes: to coach in England.”
Guardiola 'signed City contract on Thursday'
Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo even goes as far to suggest that Guardiola signed a contract with City on Thursday, with a preliminary agreement having been in place as early as October.
The paper highlights the links between city and Guardiola’s
Barcelona, with City sporting director Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano both part of the Camp Nou hierarchy as Guardiola won 14 trophies in four seasons between 2008 and 2012.
Bayern: 'No one is irreplaceable'
Pep Guardiola - AFP
Some of Bayern’s most important officials have previously
expressed confidence that Guardiola, who is seeking to win his third
successive Bundesliga title, will stay at the club.
But there was a softening in the stance of chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge this week, as he said Bayern would be able to replace Guardiola if the former Barcelona coach did decide to leave.
The final decision is expected to be made after the Bundesliga match against Hannover on December 19.
“It is not planned to push back that date,” said Rummenigge. “We
have always said there will be a decision in 2015. I know that it’s
late, just days before Christmas. But the talks will be held after the
Hannover match, and we’ll then announce a decision.
“It always continues. There is no person in this world who can’t
be replaced at some point. That’s the state of things. Players come,
players go, and the same applies to coaches. They come and they go at
one point.”
Our view
A cottage industry has sprung up for stories about Pep
Guardiola's future and barely a day goes by without someone purporting
to offer fresh insight. But something about this smells right. Two
independent Spanish sources are both reporting the decision has been
made - moreover, a contract has been signed - and Bayern appear to have
already started the process of preparing the ground for the announcement
that he will leave. Time for City fans to get excited.
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