Guardiola confirms he will leave City when his contract expires

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he plans to leave the Premier League champions when his contract runs out in 2023.

The 50-year-old, who joined Man City in 2016 and has won three league titles, feels he will need a rest after seven years in charge.

And the former Barcelona boss revealed his next ambition is to take charge of a national team.

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“Next step will be a national team, if there is a possibility. A national team is the next step,” he said at an XP Investimentos event, as reported by ESPN on Wednesday.

“After seven years on this team, I think I’m going to have a stop. I’m going to have to take a break, see what we’ve done.

“And in the process, I would like to train a South American (team), European, playing a Copa America, I want to have that experience.”

The Spaniard took a 12-month break following his departure from Barcelona in 2012 after four years at the Nou Camp, and joined Bayern Munich in 2013.

Guardiola’s comments will come as a further blow to the City hierarchy on the day their pursuit of Harry Kane ended, with the England captain confirming he would be staying at Tottenham this summer.

And City are reportedly ready to ‘divert their attention’ to Erling Haaland after Kane’s confirmation.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has dug his heels in over the club’s talismanic striker, who has been their top scorer for the last seven seasons, insisting he is not for sale.

City are said to have made an opening offer of around £100million for Kane, which Spurs laughed off, and City’s inability to sell players means they have been unable to increase that bid to an acceptable level.

There were reports that City were readying an improved £125million offer as they hadn’t given up hope, but that hope has now disappeared, with Kane *cough* committed to Spurs.

City have been linked with options besides Kane, including Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, but the Daily Mail claim they are willing to wait until next summer to go after Haaland.

The 21-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this season, before the Blues signed Romelu Lukaku in a £98million; it’s no wonder he didn’t move to Stamford Bridge given Mino Raiola’s demands.