Man City boss Pep Guardiola drops fresh retirement hint - 'One day it will be over'

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Pep Guardiola has once again dropped a hint that his departure from Manchester City - and possibly his retirement from management - could be on the horizon. Guardiola is under contract with City under the summer of 2027, but there has been continued speculation he could leave at the end of the season .

City have been actively considering possible replacements for the 55-year-old, who has been in charge since 2016. Their succession planning came to light in December, when club chiefs were reportedly considering hiring his ex-assistant Enzo Maresca as Guardiola's successor.

It has also been suggested that Guardiola could move to a new role behind the scenes at City, having achieved so much with City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona . There have been continued hints throughout the campaign that he could step down in the summer, and his comments ahead of City's Champions League last-16 tie against Real Madrid on Wednesday have fuelled speculation among fans.

Asked if he will miss big games, like those against Real Madrid , when he retires, Guardiola told TNT Sports: "Those games, of course I will miss, I have incredible love in this place, I like to come. The people in Madrid don't expect [it], but I have a lot of respect for this institution, they've done many many good things for world football.

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"Yeah, I will miss but I will miss not going to Camp Nou, I'll miss Bayern Munich - hopefully we can go through and go there - and I will miss that, when I stop and retire. I will miss these nights because they are so special.

"I'll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it. Premier League , these stadiums. I don't know, Champions League I will miss, but Fulham , Crystal Palace , this type [of stadiums], Goodison Park - these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of - FA Cup ! Against League One [teams]... I like a lot! But one day it will be over, right?"

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Guardiola took a year-long sabbatical from football following his exit from Barcelona in 2012 before heading to join Bayern Munich. And, speaking openly about his plans back in July , he suggested another break could be on the cards when the time comes at City.

"I know that after this stage with City I'm going to stop, that's for sure, it's decided, more than decided," he said. “I don't know how long I'll stop for, a year, two years, three years, five, ten, fifteen, I don't know. But I'm going to stop after this stage with City, because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body, on...

“In Catalan, they say badar. Badar, badar, badar... I want to do this, simply stop and watch the cows go by when the train goes by. My grandfather used to say, you look at me like cows watch the train go by. Well, that's it, you have to stop and watch it go by."

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