Pep Guardiola is reportedly close to signing a one-year contract extension with Manchester City, though it is uncertain what the future holds for the ex-Barcelona man in the long-run.

The Catalan manager has little left to prove in the Premier League, having achieved unprecedented success at Manchester City. Pep Gladiola joined Manchester City in the summer of 2016, taking over from an unproductive Manuel Pellegrini side. He reformed the club which previously won the Premier League title in 2013/14 and two League Cup victories in the last three years into the most successful English team in the previous decade. Since his arrival City has claimed the;

Premier League Titles: 6 (2017-18, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24)

FA Cup Titles: 2 (2018-19, 2022-23)

EFL Cup Titles: 4 (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21)

FA Community Shield Titles: 2 (2018, 2019)

FIFA Club World Cup: 1 (2022)

UEFA Champions League: 1 (2022-23) UEFA Super Cup: 1 (2023)

Another couple of league titles or an additional Champions League triumph would further solidify his reputation as one of the greatest managers of his generation and possibly “of all time.” The Spanish maestro has earned comparisons with Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, although Ferguson managed to win only four consecutive Premier League titles. Were it not for Liverpool’s extraordinary 2019/20 campaign, Pep Gladiola’s City side might have claimed seven straight Premier League titles, showing a level of dominance that hasn’t been seen in the Premier League since its inception.

According to recent reports, Manchester City is towards the final stages of extending his contract and an announcement regarding his short-term plans will soon be known. Many sources have rumors about his exit at the end of the season, but this will surely not be regarded if he pins down the new contract. Having already conquered La Liga with Barcelona and shattered records in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, Guardiola answered any doubts about his ability to replicate such success in England’s highly competitive league. At 53, the only frontier he has yet to explore is international management.

Pep Guardiola was first linked with the Brazil national team in 2013 after he left Barcelona, and he was frustrated when they decided to appoint Luis Enrique instead. He was again linked to the England job last month after allegedly accepting the role with the FA but made a U-turn which led to the appointment of Thomas Tuchel.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo is eyeing the presidency of the Brazilian Football Federation in the March 2026 elections and could look to lure Guardiola to manage the Selecao if he emerges the winner of the election. According to the former Real Madrid star, Guardiola’s philosophy aligns perfectly with Brazil’s rich footballing heritage which has failed to make a remarkable impression on the world stage for over a decade now. Ronaldo’s love for the “Joga Bonito” or “beautiful football,” which is Guardiola’s specialty has largely influenced this decision, and this could easily be at the forefront of his campaign goals.

However, it remains to be seen whether the Spanish coach would accept such a role, especially since he might require a sabbatical after his time at Manchester City. Of course, this possibility hinges on Ronaldo securing the presidency, a scenario that is far from guaranteed. Until then, Guardiola’s focus remains on his immediate future, with City fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of his new contract and extended stay.

MAN CITY JOINS RACE FOR ATLANTA’S EDERSON

Manchester City have entered the race for talented Atlanta midfielder Ederson following a disappointing month of football powered by poor defensive midfield options to suit Pep Gladiola’s style. The club is set to compete with Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain for the 25-year-old’s signature, as they seek reinforcements following Rodri’s injury.

According to reports from Mundo Deportivo, the Premier League champions are leading the race to secure the 25-year-old valued at €60 million (£50 million). Ederson is seen as a potential solution to the gap left by Rodri, who is sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has been a key figure in Manchester City’s Premier League and Champions League dominance since his arrival. He was also crucial in Spain’s historic victory at the Euro 2024. Rodri hopes for an earlier return but in reality, he is likely to miss the rest of the season. Without his commanding presence in midfield, City’s performances have dipped in all competitions, and addressing this weakness could be crucial to their pursuit of a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

Man City’s interest in Ederson is no surprise showing his exceptional performances with Italian side Atlanta. The 25-year-old has attracted interest from Europe’s top clubs with PSG and Juventus already making bids to secure him by the January transfer window. It remains uncertain whether the club is prepared to meet Atalanta’s asking price, but Man City’s desperation could be a driving factor to lure the central midfielder to the Etihad.

The Brazilian midfielder began his career at Deportivo Brasil, having spells with Cruzeiro and Corinthians in his native League before moving to Europe. He joined Salernitana in January 2022 and transferred to Atlanta later that year. Since then, the Brazilian midfielder has scored nine goals across 107 appearances for the Serie A side. The UEFA Europa Cup winner has a goal and an assist in 17 appearances in all competitions this season.

Man City has several options lined up to take on the role to fill Rodri’s void in the January transfer window. In addition to Ederson, options like Barca’s De Jong, PSG’s Warren Zaire-Emery, and Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu have come up in recent weeks.

MAN CITY DETERMINED TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS IN UPCOMING GAMES

The boys are back from an eventful international break (some still returning from the UEFA Nations League qualifiers) and are back at the Etihad Campus preparing for a series of games through the end of the year and the beginning of the next year. Pep Guardiola’s City aims to return to winning ways when they face Tottenham in a decisive Premier League clash this weekend and keep the form when they visit in the Champions League. Below is a list of Man City’s upcoming games:

Saturday 23rd November  

Manchester City vs.Tottenham Hotspur  (Premier League, 17:30)

Tuesday 26th November   

Manchester City vs. Feyenoord  (UEFA Champions League, 20:00)

Sunday 1st December 

Liverpool vs. Manchester City  (Premier League, 16:00)

Wednesday 4th December

Manchester City vs. Nottingham Forest  (Premier League, 19:30)

Saturday 7th December 

Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City  (Premier League, 15:00)

Wednesday 11th December 

Juventus vs. Manchester City  (UEFA Champions League, 20:00)

Sunday 15th December 

Manchester City vs. Manchester United  (Premier League, 16:30)

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It’s not the first time Pep Guardiola’s City has trailed on points at mid-season to claim the Premier League title by the end. The club has been strategizing through the international break and it’s time for fans and critics to see what the team has been working on behind the scenes. Impressive performances by City Bloods across Europe during the international break are a plus to the hype and performance we expect to see to overcome the track of four losses across competitions. Be Live to witness the games by getting fast-selling Manchester City tickets before they are all gone.