"Guardiola: stay," the Catalonian manager was told on a giant banner displayed at the Etihad Stadium. In Manchester, people are beginning to realize that Guardiola's time at City is coming to an end.
At 53, and after nine years at Manchester City and three at Bayern Munich, Guardiola is considering returning home. He coached at Barça for four years and left saying he had exhausted himself and needed to recharge his batteries.
Guardiola Wants to Return Home
Pep wants to return to his 12million-euro mansion in Barcelona, on the slopes of Collserola, and find a way to be useful to the club he loves. Although keeping his distance, as did Johan Cruyff, his role model.
Joan Laporta is waiting for him with open arms. And with the hope that hell return to Barcelona with Erling Haaland under his arm.
The new contract with Nike and the return to Camp Nou will make things easier. Barça will put its accounts in order starting next year and will be in a position to go after objectives that are currently unattainable.
Barça can Sign Haaland
Haaland's contract expires in 2026, but Barça could get his transfer by next summer, as a natural replacement for Lewandowski. In order for that to happen, Guardiola would need to leave City at the end of this season.
With Pep out of the Etihad Stadium dugout, Haaland will feel free to negotiate his future elsewhere.
Pep has an entire season to convince him of the glory he could achieve at Barça, against a Real Madrid flooded with stars.
Laporta Trusts in Guardiola's Help
Guardiola is leaving hints, as he did years ago at Barça when preparing his departure. "I have to think about my future, because I'm not sure about it," he said.
The departure of Txiki Begiristain this summer also has an impact. It seems clear that he will leave Manchester City, but in England they have decided to prevent his departure. His name is being mentioned as a possible manager for the English national team.
It's a new option that Pep likes, because it would allow him to live in Barcelona, just the place where Laporta wants Haaland to live. It is his great obsession to strike a sure blow to Florentino Pérez, and he trusts in Pep Guardiola's help.