MANCHESTER CITY are confident Pep Guardiola will resist the lure of a return to Barcelona.
Former Nou Camp president Joan Laporta wants Pep as coach next summer if he wins re-election.
Man City are confident Pep Guardiola will be staying at the Etihad and snub a return to BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Guardiola, 49, has one year left on his Etihad contract and City hope he will extend his stay beyond 2021.
The 57-year-old Laporta said: “I’ve been president before and excited to be back. I would very much like Guardiola to come back but now he is at City and it’s a decision Pep should take.
“He is a benchmark for Barcelona and many Catalans would like to see him coach Barca again.
“At the right time we will speak to the person who we think should be Barcelona coach from 2021.”
Laporta’s claims are sure to win him some votes, as Pep enjoys legendary status at the Nou Camp.
Between 2008-2012, his team won 14 trophies — including three LaLiga titles and two Champions Leagues.
But he is close pals with City executives Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, so it is unlikely he would walk out and leave them in the lurch.
Prior to the lockdown, Pep hinted he was “open” to the idea of extending his stay at City beyond five years if he still felt he could move the club forward.
He has previously said publicly his time in charge of Barcelona is firmly in the past and is not something he would do again.
Speaking last year, he said: “I extended my contract at City because we have a young team, I have everything I desire to do my job.
“I won’t go back to Barcelona or Germany. Where can I find facilities so good as in such a beautiful league as the Premier League?”
However, he has mentioned the possibility of returning to his boyhood club at some stage in the future, to take a role at Barca’s academy.
Ironically, Guardiola has spent much of the time while football has been paused back in Catalonia.
He is waiting for the green light to return to City, with a provisional date of May 18 now looking unlikely.
Several of his foreign stars have returned to England after several weeks back home.
Pep Guardiola (R) shakes hands with Joan Laporta (L) during his time at BarcelonaCredit: EPA
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville does not see Pep going to Barca, as he could not top his first spell there.
Guardiola has been linked with Juventus in recent seasons and Neville believes that would be a better option.
The Old Trafford legend said: “Pep has had an unbelievable influence on football in the last ten years.
“I think Italy would be a more likely venue for him.
“I always think if you go back to Barcelona and you’re Pep Guardiola, there’s no way you can achieve what you achieved last time.
“He produced the greatest team we’ve ever seen and that wouldn’t be possible again.”
Pep Guardiola’s mum Dolors Sala Carrio dies after contracting coronavirus aged 82
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
