Former FC Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season, and Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed the club will hold talks with the Spaniard next month in a bid to extend his stay at the Allianz Arena.
.
Pep Guardiola’s future has been the subject of intense speculation in the media in recent months, particularly as the Bayern Munich manager’s contract only runs to the end of the current 2015-2016 season.
English Premier League leaders Manchester City are known to covet his signature, with various reports indicating that Guardiola had ‘verbally agreed‘ to join City next summer. However, there have been reports in the Spanish media last week that suggest the 44-year-old could well extend his contract with the Bavarian giants.
Bayern Munich confirm contract talks with Guardiola have been scheduled
Bayern Munich appear nigh-on invincible in the Bundesliga this season, winning 11 and drawing 1 from their opening 12 matches. Their UEFA Champions League campaign has been similarly successful, with the German giants making up for the defeat to Arsenal FC at the Emirates by thrashing the Gunners 5-1 at the Allianz Arena in midweek.
With the season progressing encouragingly, there has been increased speculation over whether Guardiola might extend his current contract at the club, and CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge suggested that could well be the case.
“I am relaxed about it and so is the coach,” Rummenigge is quoted as saying by the Guardian, following Bayern’s latest victory — a 4-0 thumping of VfB Stuttgart. “We will have the talks after the end of the first half of the season [next month]. Then there will be a decision which we will announce whatever the outcome of this discussion.”
Manchester City keen on acquiring Guardiola’s services
Manchester City could be faced with an interesting conundrum this summer. CEO Ferran Soriano and Director of Football Txiki Begiristain are likely to want to sign Guardiola, with the latter having worked with the Spaniard at FC Barcelona. If Bayern Munich end up winning the UEFA Champions League this season, Guardiola could well be tempted to try his luck in arguably the most competitive league in Europe.
On the other hand, Manuel Pellegrini has already won a Premier League title with Manchester City, and is on track to win his second. Furthermore, the Citizens seem to have found their feet in the Champions League as well, and have the squad to be able to go deep in the knock-out stages of that competition. A successful season in England and Europe would make it difficult for the Manchester City board to let go of Pellegrini, and the club could miss out on the opportunity to lure Guardiola to the Etihad.