Pep Guardiola may be closing in on a new Manchester City contract extension, City Xtra understand, with the Catalan coach particularly pleased with a recent fan display.
The Etihad Stadium head coach is currently into the final 12 months of his most-recent Manchester City contract extension, finalised and announced during the Autumn of the club’s historic Treble-winning season in 2022/23.
With ongoing doubts over whether Pep Guardiola will remain at Manchester City beyond the end of his current deal, he has remained tight-lipped when quizzed on the subject during recent press conferences.
“I fell in love since the first day I was here. What is going to happen is going to happen,” Guardiola told reporters last week. “I’m not going to talk about this subject,” he continued. “What is going to happen is going to happen.”
For now, Manchester City supporters have continued to make sure that Pep Guardiola is aware of the love and support he has within the football club, and the desire from their side to see him remain with them into a 10th season.
Sources close to Pep Guardiola now state that the Manchester City manager ‘loved’ the supporters’ display at the Etihad Stadium prior to the 3-2 win over Fulham, and especially the Catalan flags that accompanied their banner.
City Xtra now understand that ‘hopes are rising’ that the 54-year-old will extend his contract ‘in the near future’, taking the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach into a 10th season at the football club.
Manchester City fans, as organised by supporters club 1894 Group alongside the Ninety Three Twenty podcast, raised in excess of £1,000 to produce a banner which read, “Pep Guardiola: We Want You To Stay!!!” in his native Catalan language.
Responding to the banner, but prior to its official unveiling at the Etihad Stadium, Pep Guardiola told reporters, “They have to bring me the bill; I will pay for the banner! I don’t want them to spend money for that reason! What can I say?! Thank you so much!”
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are currently into their second international break of the season, handing all involved at the club a chance to rest and reflect on the latest block of fixtures before the schedule intensifies into the winter months.
The club also has a significant decision to make with regards to their midfield roles as the January transfer window approaches, and whether they choose to recruit further to handle the absence of Rodri due to a long-term injury, or stand by their existing options.
This report contains information sourced by The 1894 Group & Ninety Three Twenty podcast.
