Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola says it is “not true” he has a contract clause allowing him to leave Manchester City next summer.
The 48-year-old Pep has won two Premier League titles City joining City in 2016 and is contracted to 2021.
The manager completed an unprecedented domestic treble last season. Nonetheless, his side City is now 14 points behind leaders Liverpool.
While responding to reports of a contract clause, Pep said, “No, it is not true. I spoke a few weeks ago about my intentions with the club.”
In November, he said that he was “happy at the club.” He added he, “wants to stay, to live and work in Manchester.”
Manchester City will visit Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday. The club is third in the title race having lost four out of 16 matches.
Despite being linked with Bournemouth center-back, Nathan Ake, Pep said that the club is not planning to make any January signings.
“The players we started the season with we are going to finish with.” He said, “we will look in the summer.”
Could this then be the beginning of the end of Pep in City?
Pep finds himself in extremely unfamiliar territories. No one knows better than him that City is in need of regeneration.
Contrary to the rumors, Pep’s desire to succeed with City remains undimmed. If anything, he is more obsessed and determined than ever.
City is in believe their manager will be at the club until the end of next season. The club is working hard on planning for the 2020-21 campaign already.
People around Pep say he is tired but the notion that he is at the end of his tether is something that all those close to him strenuously deny.
Pep has creative disputes with his assistants. The hunger is still obvious and he very much wants to turn the situation around.
But this is a long way from saying he will renew his contract. City is preparing for life without him and hope, he will want a new deal.
Nobody near Pep thinks he would decide to walk away in the summer. However, the club sources have confirmed that he has a release clause even though he has denied that is the case.
With that said, only one person knows what is next for him. Guardiola is and always has been his own man.