Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has launched a Pep Guardiola charm offensive amid claims Manchester City are preparing for life after their manager.
Guardiola is in his fourth year at the club and has never managed the same team for a fifth campaign.
The Spaniard is contracted until 2021 and has previously suggested he would be open to extending his contract, but City board are reportedly preparing for the worst, and Bartomeu has spoken out about the former Barcelona head coach amid the uncertainty.
He told La Repubblica: “It doesn’t depend on me. It was Pep who decided to leave, but the door will always be open for him at Barca.”
Guardiola has won two Premier League titles at Manchester City, but is yet to taste Champions League victory with the club.
It is thought that should they fail again in Europe that the 48-year-old will leave the club.
According to The Athletic, the Man City board are aware of this and are in the process of sounding out possible future replacements.
However, Guardiola suggested he isn’t ready to leave just yet when talking to the press just last month.
He said: “I’m so comfortable working with this club. When you are [somewhere for] five years it depends on the results. We will see what happens this season and next season.”
On whether he’ll stay, he added: “I’m open [to it], yes. 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.
