Pep Guardiola has been rumored to be on his way out of Manchester City as his contract expires after this season. Now it is clear that he will stay in City. The Spaniard has committed his feature to the club until 2023.
Guardiola joined City from Bayern Munich in 2016 and the five seasons he has spent at the club is the longest time he has spent at any club.
“His influence has been central to our success and I am happy that he shares the image that there is much more to achieve both on and off the field,” City chairman Khaldoon Mubarak told.
Under Guardiola’s leadership, the club has won 181 of 245 matches and he has also won two Premier League titles with City and taken the team to a Champions League semi-final.
“Having this support is the best a manager can have. I have everything I ever need to do my job well and I am humbled by the trust the owner, the board, Ferran and Txiki have given me for another two years,” Guardiola said.
Spanish giants Barcelona has targeted to bring back Guardiola to Camp Nou after former president Joseph Maria Bartomeu sacking last month.
However, Guardiola insisted that City is the perfect place for him to work and bringing trophies back to Etihad Stadium.
“I’ve said many times, my period as Barcelona manager is over. There are incredible people who can be in charge.” Guardiola said.
“Ronald Koeman is an outstanding manager. It’s over. I will come back to my seat to see my club [Barcelona], to watch a game, but it’s done.
“I’m here, I’m incredibly happy here. I have the desire to do well. This is the most important thing. With the elections in Barcelona, hopefully they choose the right person for the board to maintain the incredible.” Guardiola added.