Reports | Pep Guardiola could leave at the end of the season

According to English media outlet Daily Mail, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is free to leave the four-time Premier League champions at the end of the season. The Daily Mail further reported that the former Bayern Munich boss has a break clause in his contract which entitles him to leave the club in 2020 if he wishes to. Last year, Guardiola signed a new deal with Citizens, which saw him extend his current contract till 2021 and the extension included an agreement that he could depart at the conclusion of this campaign should certain stipulations that satisfy the club be met.

Manchester City hierarchy are confident that the Spanish boss will honour his current deal despite the underwhelming season so far that has seen the Cityzens fall behind Liverpool in the title race by 14 points. However, the Manchester-based club topped their UEFA Champions League group with 14 points in 6 games. Pep Guardiola's tutelage has been instrumental in guiding City to two back to back Premier League titles and helping the Citizens win four domestic trophies last season, so the club chiefs are patient with their manager despite recent hiccups and want him to continue beyond this season as well.

There have been flying rumours that Guardiola might be interested in taking the managerial role at Juventus in the upcoming future but the former Barcelona boss has squashed the rumours and insists that he is happy at City. The release clause has been revealed at a time when City are struggling in their campaign with key players being out injured and the club struggling on the pitch. Mauricio Pochettino but, Guardiola has admitted that he is open to staying in Manchester beyond 2021 and added that it's the club that decides whether a new contract will be offered to him or not.