England’s top clubs will be paying close attention to a Spaniard in Bavaria this festive season. For Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is due to announce his future plans before Christmas.
Guardiola, 44, is halfway through the final year of his contract and says he will announce his decision to renew or go before December 25.
He has stayed tight-lipped, giving no indication either way as to what he will decide, but Spanish sports daily Marca reported that Guardiola has already told Bayern directors that he will leave at the end of the season.
According to the Madrid-based paper, Guardiola believes both he and the club would benefit from a change of scenery due to his intense work ethic that can wear players down.
Meantime, a sense of anticipation is building in the squad over Guardiola’s impending announcement. “I can’t look inside his head,” goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said, but “I’m excited about the decision.”
On behalf of the squad, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm has already told Guardiola, who has won 19 titles as coach of Barcelona and Bayern, he should extend his stay. “The team’s position is clear,” he said. “We enjoy working with our coach and we really, really want to keep doing so.”
And Xabi Alonso is said to be keen to extend his contract which also expires in June if Guardiola stays.
Even Bayern fans got in on the act.
On Guardiola’s pre- Christmas visit to a Bayern fan club earlier this month, a supporter dressed as Santa Claus handed him an elaborate scroll.
It was a spoof contract to be Bayern’s coach for the rest of his life. All Guardiola had to do was sign his name and fill in “whatever amount of money he thought appropriate.”
Although he laughed it off, Guardiola appears to be increasingly annoyed by the constant rounds of rumors.
Marti Perarnau, a journalist who shadowed Guardiola through his first season in Munich, has insisted England will be Pep’s next stop.
Various sources claim Guardiola signed a deal at the start of this year to join Manchester City for 2016/17 season.
Manchester United have supposedly joined the chase for the coach.
Guardiola is not saying anything, apparently just thinking of Christmas.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE