Manchester City are approaching a defining moment that could close one of the most successful managerial chapters in modern football. Pep Guardiola is widely expected to leave at the end of this season, even though his contract runs until 2027. According to people familiar with the situation, the club and the dressing room increasingly believe that the summer will mark the end of his time at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola has been careful whenever he is asked about his future, but the silence around the topic has done little to calm the speculation. The feeling inside the club is that the decision has already been made, and what remains is the timing of an announcement. City have chosen not to address the matter publicly while the Premier League title race is still alive and one match remains on the schedule.
The mood inside the club
Those close to the situation describe a steady shift from uncertainty to acceptance. On Monday, when asked for an update, sources said that “nothing has changed”, a response that has only added to the impression that the club is holding its position until the season is over. Players and staff are said to be treating a summer departure as the most likely outcome.
That caution is not accidental. City do not want Guardiola’s future to dominate the conversation while the title is still up for grabs. The club’s leadership appears determined to avoid any distraction that could interfere with the final stretch of a fiercely contested season.
Why the contract still allows an exit
Although Guardiola is under contract through 2027, the agreement includes a break clause that gives him the option to walk away at the end of the current campaign. That detail is central to the story, because it provides a clean route out without forcing either side into a complicated dispute.
The arrangement was always about flexibility. Guardiola has spoken openly over the years about the physical and mental demands of elite management, and many around him have long believed that ten years in Manchester could be a natural endpoint. The contract extension was not designed to trap him at the club; it was intended to keep the door open if he chose to stay.
- Contract expiry: 2027
- Possible exit point: End of the 2025-26 season
- Projected City tenure if he leaves: 10 years
- Current age: 55
Enzo Maresca is the early favourite
If Guardiola does step aside, City already appear to have a leading candidate in mind. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked under Guardiola at City, has emerged as the front-runner to take over. His familiarity with the club makes him a natural fit for a team that values continuity and tactical precision.
There are several reasons Maresca stands out:
- He understands the club’s environment and internal standards
- His coaching ideas are rooted in possession-based football
- He is available after leaving Chelsea earlier in the year
- He is believed to have already been discussed in early contact
Other names may be mentioned as the summer approaches, but Maresca is the one most strongly linked with the role so far. That alone suggests City are preparing for a smooth transition rather than a lengthy search.
One title race still shapes everything
Guardiola’s future is not unfolding in isolation. City are still fighting for the league title, and the result of their next match could decide whether the season ends with another championship celebration or disappointment. Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday kept the pressure firmly on City, who now need to beat Bournemouth to keep the race alive.
The scenario is straightforward:
- A City win: the title race continues to the final day against Aston Villa
- Any dropped points: Arsenal are crowned champions for the first time since 2004
That is why the club has been so reluctant to say anything definitive. Any confirmation of Guardiola’s departure would instantly overshadow the sporting battle still taking place on the pitch.
A legacy already written in trophies
Even if this is his final season, Guardiola leaves behind a record that will be remembered for years. His 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final brought him his 20th trophy as City manager, a remarkable total that underlines the scale of his success in England.
The club has also begun to mark that legacy in a more permanent way. A celebration is planned for the day after the final league game against Aston Villa, when City will parade both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, which they won against Arsenal in March. There are also plans to rename a stand at the Etihad Stadium in Guardiola’s honour, a gesture that suggests the club is already thinking about the post-Guardiola era.
What the next few weeks may bring
The likeliest path now seems to be a familiar one: Guardiola finishes the season, City complete their celebrations, and only then does the manager formally confirm what many inside the club already expect. Once that happens, City would move towards a detailed approach for Maresca, with contract terms and compensation becoming the next major step.
For now, the focus remains on the final match. Guardiola still has one more chance to keep the title race alive and, perhaps, one final opportunity to add another major honour before a possible farewell. Whether the ending arrives this week or after the celebrations, the broader picture is becoming clear: City are preparing for life after Pep.