'Impossible for my soul' - Pep Guardiola sensationally vows to QUIT Man City if squad size is not reduced for next season

Guardiola put pen to paper on a new City contract until 2027 late last year but now the ex-Barcelona boss has threatened to walk out of the club if he has to work with a bloated squad next term. He added it would be "impossible" for his soul to have players left out of matchday squads, just as James McAtee, Savinho, and Rico Lewis were for City's 3-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.

He said after the game: "I said to the club I don't want that. I don't want to leave five or six players in the tribune. I don't want that. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay. It's impossible for my soul to give [leave] my players in the tribune, that they cannot play.

"I don't want to have 24, 25, 26 players when everyone is fit. If I have injuries, unlucky. We have some players for the academy and we do it. [We] cannot sustain for the emotion of the club, the soul of the team, create another connection with each other that this season we lost it a bit."

On a night that should have been more about Kevin De Bruyne's final City game at the Etihad, Guardiola has grabbed the headlines with a shock ultimatum. City, who responded well to their FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, are preparing for a rebuild this summer, but it seems they will have to walk a fine line - or else the Spaniard will leave them.

City, who welcomed back Rodri from a long-term knee injury against Bournemouth, round off their season away to Fulham on Sunday. Guardiola's side sit third in the Premier League table and are on course to secure Champions League football once again next season.