Pep Guardiola split with wife Cristina Serra after 'tense' dinner and deciding against leaving Man City for Middle East move

Earlier this week, it was reported that Guardiola and his wife had split after 30 years together. The couple privately informed the news to their friends and family, although were maintaining a cordial relationship and had spent Christmas together with their three children before this revelation became public. In 2019, Serra left England to head back to Barcelona with one of their children to manage her family fashion business, while Guardiola stayed to manage Manchester City.

Per The Sun, the City boss flew to Barcelona in October to meet his wife and the couple went out for dinner at the manager's favourite restaurant, Bodega Sepulveda. A waiter at that restaurant told The Sun: "He came in with his wife about three months ago. They sat in the corner and things looked a little tense between them. He was talking animatedly. We were all shocked to hear that they had split."

Spanish journalists Laura Fa and Lorenza Vazquez provided more information on the divorce as they claimed that things went downhill once Guardiola informed Serra he would extend his stay at Etihad Stadium until 2027.

The duo said: "She takes the decision when he decides to extend his contract with Manchester City because, in the previous months, Pep had been preparing his departure from the club. We know one of his objectives was to leave and move to the United Arab Emirates. People around him were beginning to say goodbye to him because he wasn’t going to renew his contact. That decision not to renew was helping bring him closer to his wife. But when he decided to stay and extend his contract, Cristina decided enough was enough and it was her that decided to end the marriage."

Vazquez further added: "It’s been a carefully considered decision the couple discussed over several months. They continue to have a cordial and affectionate relationship. No one else is involved. There are no third parties."

For now, the 54-year-old manager remains focused on improving the Cityzens' Premier League position as they are currently eighth in the table. They will next be in action on Sunday away to Ipswich Town.