Revealed: Pep Guardiola considered FIFA Club World Cup plan and Manchester City exit | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola was determined to manage Manchester City at the recent FIFA Club World Cup regardless of whether he would be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer.

The Catalan coach is now entering into his 10th season with the Premier League giants having joined the club in 2016, winning every trophy available including the UEFA Champions League and many on numerous occasions, too.

There has been ongoing conversation over when the time will be for Guardiola to bring an end to his legendary career in English football, with the 54-year-old holding a desire to move into international management after Manchester City.

However, despite entering into the final year of his Etihad Stadium contract on numerous occasions, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has ultimately ended up renewing terms in the Autumn of seasons.

The latest of those contractual negotiations saw Guardiola pen a new two-year agreement with Manchester City, taking him through until the conclusion of the 2026/27 campaign despite the original feeling being that the last season would be his final year.

Now, new details looking back on the Catalan’s thought process and conversations with club officials last November have pointed towards his desire to lead the club at their now-concluded FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

That is according to the information of The Times’ Paul Hirst, who reveals that when Pep Guardiola was deciding whether to extend his Manchester City contract, one item was always clear in his mind; taking charge at the Club World Cup, if the club permitted.

It is detailed that despite his previous agreement due to expire at the end of June, such was Guardiola’s desire to coach City in the United States that the Catalan was willing to sign a short-term deal for the competition’s duration, and perhaps even alongside a successor.

Ultimately, Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City coaching staff will feel as though they put in some fine work in the United States as they look to prepare their playing squad for the brand new cross-competition season.

Despite falling short in the last-16 at the hands of Al Hilal in a dramatic 3-4 defeat in Orlando, Manchester City were the only side to win all three of their group stage matches and managed to score 13 goals in the process, conceding just twice.

Hugo Viana’s new signings will have also brought about plenty of encouragement and excitement for supporters, with very bright performances from Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Rayan Cherki.

Manchester City will now be granted four weeks off before resuming training ground activities at the City Football Academy towards the end of July, beginning work towards their Premier League opener against Wolves on Saturday 16 August.