Manchester City appear to be nearing the end of a defining managerial era. Pep Guardiola is expected to leave at the end of the season, with people inside the club increasingly treating that outcome as the likeliest one. He has avoided giving a direct answer about his future, but the sense around the squad is that the decision has already been taken.
His current deal runs to 2027, yet the contract includes a break clause that gives him the option to walk away this summer. That detail has become central to the story. According to multiple reports, Guardiola is expected to use it, although City are keeping quiet for now because the Premier League title race is still alive and one final league match remains.
The club is not standing still behind the scenes. If Guardiola does move on, former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is believed to be the leading candidate to replace him. Maresca once worked under Guardiola at City, which makes him a familiar and logical name in a period where continuity matters.
Why the Silence Around His Future
City’s public position has been carefully measured. When asked on Monday, sources close to the club said nothing had changed, a response that avoided confirmation while doing little to calm speculation. Inside the dressing room, the expectation is now said to be far stronger than the uncertainty.
That approach makes sense. With the title still on the line, the club does not want a major managerial announcement overshadowing the final stretch of the campaign. Any formal statement is more likely to come after the season ends, once the football itself has been settled.
The Contract Detail That Changes Everything
The reason this story has gathered pace is simple: Guardiola’s contract gives him an exit route. Although the agreement lasts until 2027, the break clause is believed to open at the end of this season, allowing him to leave without a prolonged dispute or a drawn-out negotiation.
That structure was always going to matter. Guardiola has spoken more than once about the demands of managing at the top level, and a ten-year spell in one job is a natural point at which many coaches begin to reassess. The contract offered stability for City, but also flexibility for him.
For context, if he does leave now, the numbers are striking. He would complete 10 years at the club, remain one of the most successful managers in English football history, and depart with a legacy that is already secure.
Maresca’s Candidacy Is Gaining Ground
Maresca stands out because he fits the way City work. He understands the club’s methods, knows the environment, and has already been shaped by Guardiola’s coaching ideas. That matters at a team where tactical familiarity is not just helpful, but often essential.
His recent availability also strengthens the case. After leaving Chelsea earlier this year, he became one of the more realistic options for a club looking to move quickly if a vacancy opens up. Reports suggest he has already been sounded out, which usually means the conversation has moved beyond idle speculation.
Other names may appear as the summer approaches, but Maresca is the one most consistently linked at this stage. If City want someone who can step into a well-defined football model without tearing it up, he looks like the front-runner.
One Last Push in the Title Race
The timing of all this is awkward, but also fitting. Guardiola’s final week could still end with another league crown. Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday increased the pressure, and City now need to beat Bournemouth to keep the title race alive until the last day.
The equation is straightforward. A win would take the race to the final match against Aston Villa. Any dropped points, and Arsenal would be champions for the first time since 2004. That is why City have been so reluctant to let the managerial story take over the conversation before the season is finished.
A Legacy City Are Already Preparing to Honour
Even before any farewell is confirmed, Guardiola’s influence is being recognised in tangible ways. His 1-0 win over Chelsea in the FA Cup final gave him a 20th trophy as City manager, a remarkable total at any club, let alone one he has transformed so completely.
The celebrations planned around the final league match suggest the club knows exactly how to frame this moment. City are due to parade both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, which they won against Arsenal in March. There is also a plan to rename a stand at the Etihad Stadium in Guardiola’s honour, a gesture that points to a farewell being quietly anticipated rather than merely discussed.
What Happens After the Final Whistle
The most likely sequence now seems clear. City finish the season, possibly with another title. The club then carries out its end-of-season celebrations, and only after that does Guardiola’s departure become official. If that happens, the next step would be a formal move for Maresca, with discussions over compensation and contract terms following soon after.
For now, Guardiola still has one more league match to shape the ending. Whether he stays or goes, the club and its supporters are watching the final chapter of one of the most important managerial spells in modern English football.