Manchester City chief shoots down Pep Guardiola to Barcelona links

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 28 January 2023

Man City chief shoots down Guardiola to Barcelona links

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano insists that Pep Guardiola will not be returning to Barcelona after a recent admission from the ex-Blaugrana boss.

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano has ruled out the prospect of Pep Guardiola making a sensational return to Barcelona following peculiar comments from the Catalan coach.

Guardiola earned his big break in management during his time at Camp Nou, where he won a total of 14 trophies during his four years in charge between 2008 and 2012.

The 52-year-old led Barcelona to two Champions League titles and three La Liga titles during his time in the hotseat, collecting two World's Best Club Coach awards in the process.

Guardiola recently signed a new contract at Man City to keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2025, but he recently admitted that the door was not closed on a future return to Barcelona.

"If I'm training here, wherever and Barcelona calls me, I'll go to Barcelona, it's my club," Guardiola told a press conference ahead of Friday's FA Cup win over Arsenal.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts on January 5, 2022 © Reuters

However, CEO Soriano insisted that Guardiola's comments were taken out of context, as he would only be prepared to return to Barcelona if he was an assistant coach.

At the time, Guardiola was referencing Mikel Arteta, who spent time as assistant manager at Man City before returning to Arsenal to take up the manager's vacancy in 2019.

Speaking to DAZN during Barcelona's La Liga win over Girona on Saturday, Soriano said: "No, I don't think [Guardiola joining Barcelona] is possible.

"If you actually listen to Guardiola's statements, he says 'if I were assistant coach at Manchester City...', but he's not an assistant coach.

"He is the head coach at City. So, I'm sure that he won't go to Barcelona or anywhere else in the next two and a half years."

FC Barcelona coach Xavi reacts on January 8, 2023 © Reuters

Guardiola was supposedly also wanted by Brazil before signing his new Man City contract, and the 52-year-old has now taken charge of 384 games for Man City, posting 283 wins, 44 draws and 57 defeats.

Furthermore, there is little prospect of Barcelona parting ways with Xavi anytime soon, as the 43-year-old continues to impress since replacing Ronald Koeman in the hotseat.

Xavi oversaw a 1-0 victory over Girona on Saturday thanks to Pedri's winner, which has extended La Blaugrana's lead at the top of the La Liga table to six points over Real Madrid, who face Real Sociedad on Sunday night.

The former Al-Sadd boss is only under contract at Barcelona until 2024, but he is expected to be offered an extension amid Barcelona's impressive domestic run of victories.