Pep Guardiola agreed a one-year contract extension with Manchester Metropolis on Tuesday, with the choice of an extra yr, and the Catalan’s determination may give a sign to the result of the membership’s alleged monetary rule breaking.
The Premier League has accused Manchester Metropolis of breaking monetary guidelines between 2009 and 2018, with the membership going through 115 prices. An unbiased listening to into the alleged monetary rule breaking began in September, with a verdict anticipated to be made public in 2025.
And if Manchester Metropolis are discovered responsible, then the punishment may very well be catastrophic. Unprecedented within the trendy sport, Manchester Metropolis may face enormous fines, factors deductions and even potential relegations – to not point out the stripping of the trophies they picked up through the alleged interval.
Pep Guardiola signing a brand new deal won’t make clear issues at Manchester Metropolis
Pep Guardiola‘s determination to stay because the Manchester Metropolis supervisor past the present season – together with his outdated deal set to run out on the finish of 2024/25 – should absolutely counsel that each he and the membership are assured of successful the case and remaining within the Premier League.
On the floor, it looks as if there’s full perception that Guardiola will proceed to problem together with his aspect on the sharp finish of the desk in England’s prime division – however when scratching a bit deeper, maybe there’s greater than meets the attention.
After initially signing a three-year deal when taking on Manchester Metropolis in 2016, Guardiola has now gone on to signal 4 extensions to maintain him within the northwest of England for no less than a pair extra years. It have to be famous, although, that in Might 2018, November 2020 and November 2022, Guardiola dedicated to a different two seasons at Manchester Metropolis outright.
So why is he solely signing a one-plus-one choice this time round? Does he, or the membership, know one thing may be occurring behind the scenes that requires each events to cowl their again simply in case?
Guardiola has beforehand recommended that he would proceed to handle Manchester Metropolis even when they have been “relegated to League One”, however that is a simple factor to say earlier than the fact turns into obvious.
For a supervisor who has by no means not fought for elite league titles since taking cost of Barcelona’s first crew in 2008, query marks stay over whether or not he’d slum it within the third tier of English soccer, heading to away video games on the likes of Exeter Metropolis, Mansfield City and Stevenage frequently.
And what about if a prime worldwide job turns into obtainable in the summertime of 2026, when the World Cup has simply concluded and Guardiola’s preliminary yr has completed? The Catalan has beforehand expressed his need to handle a global aspect earlier than he finishes his profession, and has been closely linked with taking cost of Brazil and England up to now.
“A nationwide crew,” Guardiola stated when requested what’s subsequent in his profession. “I want to practice a nationwide crew for a World Cup or a European Championship. I would love that.”
However whereas England opted for Thomas Tuchel to steer them in America, Canada and Mexico, ought to they qualify, the German’s deal finishes after the conclusion of the event. No matter how properly Tuchel manages to do, the FA will possible focus on Guardiola doubtlessly succeeding him contemplating his potential availability in 2026. Conversations with Pep to influence him to take over would possibly even occur.
Theoretically, Guardiola’s new contract places to relaxation any recommendations that he’s trying elsewhere and that each he and Manchester Metropolis are assured of successful the battle towards the Premier League’s prices. In actuality, every part has simply change into a complete lot murkier, with the 53-year-old afforded quite a few get-out choices ought to issues begin trying ominous.
