Pep U-turn?! Guardiola drops fresh hint on Man City future amid reports he could walk away after 2024/25 season

Guardiola's future has been the subject of much speculation as the Spaniard has been tipped to conclude his impressive spell at the Etihad next summer. After years of collecting numerous trophies, it seemed plausible that he would seek new challenges, maybe that of a national team as he harbours ambitions to be on the sidelines of a major international tournament.

According to the Daily Mail, the City board is actively working to retain Guardiola until 2026, which would mark a decade of his leadership at the club. Although it is not clear whether the manager remains open to extending his stay for an additional year after the expiry of his current contract, he insisted that he is refreshed after the summer break and is ready to give his all for a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

On the sidelines of a Puma block party near New York's Rockefeller Centre, Guardiola stated: "If you love what you do, why should I stop? I like it – as much now as when they hired me – so let’s go."

According to several reports, The Football Association (FA) of England is lining up a bid for Guardiola and is even prepared to wait and see if he leaves City in 2025 before appointing a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate. They remain open to the possibility of appointing an interim manager in the meantime with Lee Carsley being considered as a strong contender.

In the short term, Guardiola's primary focus will be on leading City to domestic and European success. He is currently overseeing the squad's pre-season preparations as his troops are set to face AC Milan at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night.