- Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out signing a contract extension at Man City
- The Spaniard is entering the final year of his current deal with the champions
- He admitted that he has ‘spoken with the club’ over his future as manager
Pep Guardiola heads into a ninth season at Manchester City with his future up in the air after revealing all options remain on the table.
The City boss is out of contract next summer and Mail Sport reported in May that key figures at the Etihad Stadium expect this campaign to be the Catalan’s last.
Guardiola was frank in admitting that he could yet stay or leave after conversations with the club’s hierarchy over the summer.
‘We spoke with the club and said it’s a lot of years so we will see what will happen but I am not ruling out absolutely to extend the contract,’ Guardiola said.
‘When I said I would love to stay (it’s) because I would love to stay. So that’s why, I (don’t) want to deny my feelings, I want to see my players. Nine years today in the same club is an eternity.
Pep Guardiola has refused to rule out signing a contract extension with Manchester City
The Spaniard is entering the final year of his current deal with the Premier League champions
‘I want to be sure it’s the right decision, not just for me but for club, the right decision for the players, if they run like they already ran for eight years, no matter the competition, the tournament, and this is what I have to see and that’s all.
‘I wouldn’t want to take a step that could cause a problem in the way I do it. What happens is we will talk. I don’t know what is the best.
‘What I say is at the start of the season, see how everything is going, how connected we are all together again and after we will see.’
Guardiola confirmed that regardless of the contractual situation, he wants to lead City at the Club World Cup in America next June.
The 53-year-old added: ‘I would love to. I would love to. I don’t know if it is going to be played because I know the mess about FIFA and the clubs or whatever, because everybody defends his position, but if at the end, if it is going to happen, I would love to.’
There are still question marks over the future of Ederson, who is with City in New York on the second leg of their US tour.
Man City goalkeeper Ederson has been linked with a summer move to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Pro League’s Al-Ittihad have not hit City’s valuation of their No 1, which is towards £50million.
‘I wish from the bottom of my heart that Eddie continues with us, replacing Eddie is so difficult,’ Guardiola said.
‘It depends on him but I would love him to stay because I cannot imagine our process, our success these last years without him. He is an important figure in the locker room with the presence and many things.
‘Hopefully, it would be a good sign for us. If someone leaves, maybe, but if no one leaves I think we will stay how we are.’
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