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18th December 2025
01:06pm GMT

Manchester City have identified a potential successor for the iconic Pep Guardiola - should he decide to leave the North West next summer.
As per anonymous sources to The Athletic and David Ornstein, there is a growing anticipation that Guardiola may leave the club at the end of this coming season, with a firm decision to be made closer to the business end.
Guardiola is currently contracted to the club until June 2027, courtesy of a new deal signed in November 2024.
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If the six-time Premier League and treble winner does depart Manchester, the club may look to Chelsea's Enzo Maresca.
In his second season in the capital, Maresca is though well-known by City, having led the club's under-21 for the 2020-21 season, before returning as a first-team assistant in 2022.
The Italian's Chelsea contract currently runs until 2029, with an option to extend by a further 12-months.
Speaking to ESPN Brasil in May, Guardiola promised to take a break from football after leaving City, who he joined in 2016.
“After my contract with City, I’m going to stop,” the Catalan stated. “I am sure. I don’t know if I’m going to retire, but I’m going to take a break.”
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