Pep Guardiola’s agent plays down Bayern Munich’s interest in Manchester City’s manager

Niko Kovac recently resigned for Bayern Munich and the Bavarians have been on the hunt for a new manager ever since. While Hansi Flick seems to be a great short-term option in Munich, a good long-term appointment is crucial. Names such as Max Allegri and Arsene Wenger have already been touted as potential Kovac successors, yet it’s Pep Guardiola who’s said to be at the top of Bayern’s wish list. Now Guardiola’s agent, Josep Maria Orobitg, has waded in on the transfer speculation.

Speaking to Goal, Orobitg said that Guardiola was enjoying life in Manchester and stressed the importance of his current contract with Manchester City, which expires in 2021. Orobitg said,

I spoke with Pep last Wednesday, and everything is the same: he feels good at Manchester City and also in the city of Manchester, and he has a contract until June 30, 2021

At Bayern, Guardiola coached many veterans still in the first team, such as Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich. The press has therefore been quick to write many stories about a potential return, which would really be very unexpected and shocking. Bayern fans pining for the manager who guided the club from 2014 to 2017 may be disappointed with Orbitig’s additional statement that Bayern has not even contacted him about Pep. He said,

Nobody but the press contacted me about the future of Pep.

From afar, rumors of a return to Munich appear to have little substance, and Guardiola is much more likely to seek a move to Italy, perhaps Juventus, or to a national team. Furthermore, the Catalan coach may not even be eyeing a move elsewhere, given that he has a world-class squad at his disposal. There has always been a feeling that he is building something at City for the long run. Still, Orbitig did not rule out a sensational return to Bayern: “In football, nothing is certain,” he concluded.

Well, there is one thing that is certain: the rumor mill will be at its active best (or should I say worst?) until Bayern decides on the next manager to guide the squad. Let’s all hope that the front office not only can hire a suitable candidate, but also does so swiftly.