Pep Guardiola has confirmed he won't manage another club in the Premier League when he finally departs Manchester City.
"I think I will always be at Man City. If I had to come back, I would come back to Man City, if they want me," he said. "I don't think I am going to train another club in England. I'm a part of this club."
90min has been told that plans are already afoot that will see him eventually move to New York, and stay within the City Football Group at sister club New York City FC in Major League Soccer.
Guardiola previously spent a year in New York on sabbatical after leaving Barcelona in 2012, before beginning his stint with Bayern Munich.
He has never hidden his love for the Big Apple and reiterated only recently when backing a CFG scheme for new pitches in New York just how much of a place in his heart it has.
“I’ve spent a lot of time in New York City during my career. It’s a city I love deeply and over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to see first-hand New Yorkers’ passion for football," said Guardiola.
"Young people want to play and need a place to play. The fact that there are now 50 new football pitches throughout New York City because of NYCFC and our group is amazing and will make a big difference in the lives of young people.
"I have said it for many years, I believe there is an incredibly bright future for football in the U.S. and amazing projects like this one will play a part in helping to produce the next generation of young American talent.
"All over the world, I’ve seen how football can change lives; it brings people together like no other sport – and I’m very proud that our Group has played a part in using our sport to bring people together and give young people more places to play the game we love here in Manchester and around the world.”
Guardiola's current deal expires in 2023 having agreed an extension in late 2020. 90min understands it's at this point that the Spaniard intends to leave Europe to take up a post with NYCFC, who are currently managed by former Celtic boss Ronny Deila.
Should Guardiola join NYCFC, it would continue a general trend of hiring coaches with existing ties to the City Football Group, with Dome Torrent (Guardiola's former assistant), and Patrick Vieira (former midfielder and football development executive at Man City) previously manning the dugout. Even Deila himself has a longstanding relationship with CFG.
“After seven years on this team, I think I’m going to have a stop. I’m going to have to take a break, see what we’ve done," Guardiola said earlier this year, referring to his contract expiry in 2023.
The Spaniard has also stated that he would like to work around the world in South America and as a national team coach, and clearly, a stop-off in MLS is on the agenda.
Source : 90min