Pep Guardiola rubbishes reports of “secret release clause” in Manchester City contract

It looks like a Pep Guardiola - Bayern Munich homecoming won’t happen, at least any time in the near future. Earlier this week, it was reported by multiple outlets in England that the Spaniard had a release clause in his current contract with Manchester City, but he’s since come out and denied that suggestion. The purported release clause said that he could leave City at the end of the 2019/2020 campaign under the circumstances where the club’s board approved his departure with the proper contingency plans in place.

Instead, during his press conference ahead of City’s weekend clash against Arsenal at the Emirates, Guardiola quickly dismissed reports of the release clause in his contract when he was directly asked about it (talkSport):

No, it’s not true. I spoke about my intentions [to stay] a few weeks ago.

His short, yet blunt statement echoed what he had said last month when he was asked about his current contract with Manchester City and potentially leaving:

I want to stay, I don’t have any reasons to move. I am incredibly satisfied to work with this club, with these players, and if the people think I am going to resign for these results and being nine points behind, the people do not know me. I like to have this challenge, I love to be in this position. If the club wants (me) next season I want to be here 100 per cent. I want to live in this city because I know lovely people here and I want to work and live with them and I want to be here.

Of course, City have dropped more points since then and are now 14 points behind league leaders Liverpool and 6 points behind second-placed Leicester City, who have been the league’s surprise package this season. Guardiola’s frustration has been clearly visible on the touchlines on a number of occasions this season and he’s had to deal with a handful of key injuries to his squad. Not to mention, he also had THAT Freudian slip last week, too. Bayern is surely on his mind, aren’t we?!

While a Guardiola homecoming either next season or perhaps even the season after could be exactly what Bayern need, it looks increasingly unlikely to happen. He’ll always be held in high regard at the club, but it looks like Bayern is going to have to look elsewhere for their long-term replacement for the interim Hansi Flick.