Football

Pep Guardiola has release clause in Man City contract as Mauricio Pochettino lined-up as contingency plan


Pep Guardiola could leave Man City at the end of the season (Picture: Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave in the summer of 2020.

The Spaniard signed a contract extension last year which was due to keep him at the club till 2021, but Sportsmail report that this could be cut short, ‘should certain stipulations that satisfy the club be met.’

While these stipulations have not been detailed, the report states that Pep would be able to walk away at the end of this campaign without breaching his contract.

The Man City hierarchy are confident that they will keep hold of Guardiola, at least until 2021, but they are readying a Plan B in case he does want to leave at the end of the season.

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is being eyed-up as the contingency plan, with City chiefs a big fan of the Argentinian and as he is out of work since leaving Spurs last month.

Guardiola spoke in November about being open to a contract extension at City, keeping him at the Etihad past 2021.

‘I’m open [to it], yes,’ he said. ‘It is not about what the club wants or not. For me, I want to see my players and the reaction of my players and everything.

‘It is not as simple as I want to extend. I want to see the club, I want to see the players, I want to see how we are still working together.’

The Premier League champions have hit a poor run of form in recent weeks as the chances of retaining their title appear to have slipped away.

Recent defeats to Liverpool and Mancehster United and a draw with Newcastle have left them 14 points off the top of the table.

Guardiola has won the Premier League title twice with City, but is yet to reach a Champions League final with the club, and it is unlikely he would leave with neither trophy under the club’s possession.

MORE: Pep Guardiola includes Manchester United on his list of five teams Man City can’t compete with

MORE: Pep Guardiola consoles Fred after suffering racist abuse in Manchester derby





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.