Pep Guardiola to depart Manchester City at the end of season: Reports

Pep Guardiolais expectedto leave Manchester City at the end of the season next year, according tomedia reports.Guardiola, who recently secured a fourth consecutive Premier League title withCityis in the final year of his managerial contract and does not seem inclined to sign an extension.

Quizzed during the open bus parade for the historic four-peat, Guardiola was asked:"At the start of next season, you will be the PremierLeague'slongest-serving manager. Would youjuststay forever, please? Can wejustget you to stay forever?"

Guardiola, caught off guard by the question, respondedin aratherawkward manner: "Forever?![laughs]"

"Evenmyself,Icouldn'texpect to stay here eight yearsbuteverything goes well.Step-by-stepweare here. It looks routinebutit'snot routine,"added Guardiola.

The Spanish manager, however, promised to see out his contract and said City will bounce back next season from their FA Cup final disappointment.

"We will be back next season,"Guardiola said.“The FA Cup, we will take it.”

According to reports, the upper management at the club has already started to compile a list of potential successors to Guardiola who can carry his mantle.

'Closer to leaving'

Notably, Sunday (May 26) was not the firstinstance when Guardiola has givenan ambiguous answer regarding his future at City.After winning the title last week, Guardiolawas askedthe same question whereinreplied that he was closer to leaving than staying.

"The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying.We have talked with the clubandmy feeling is thatI want to stay now.I will stay next seasonandduring theseasonwe will talk.But after eight or nine years, we will see,"said Guardiola.

"Ihave a contract,I'mstill here. Some of the momentsI'ma bit tired, but some of the moments I loveandwe are here winning games, looking good with new players."

Having previously coached the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it is highly likely that Guardiola would opt for a sabbatical like his Liverpool compatriot, Jurgen Klopp. The German manager said goodbye to Anfield after nine successful seasons at the club and forging a hyper-competitive rivalry with Guardiola.

(With inputs from agencies)