Pep Guardiola Apologises to Manchester City Players After Shock Departure Leak Ahead of Bournemouth Clash

Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City’s players he will be departing the Etihad Stadium when the current season concludes, according to reports, bringing an end to what has been one of the most decorated managerial tenures in English football history.

The Spanish tactician is reportedly furious that news of his impending exit became public before Tuesday night’s must-win Premier League fixture against Bournemouth. According to The Sun, Guardiola convened a late-night group call with his players on Monday to personally deliver the news and address the circumstances surrounding the leak.

“Pep is furious at the timing just before a game,” a source told The Sun. “He summoned the players to join a late-night group call and confirmed he was leaving. He apologised for the way the news emerged. It took him by surprise. The players were told as recently as Saturday that he wasn’t going, so everyone is in a state of shock.”

The development caught the squad off guard, given that Guardiola had publicly maintained in recent days that he still had a year remaining on his contract at the club. That deal, which runs for a further 12 months, had led to widespread assumption within the squad that his stay would continue into next season.

Guardiola, who arrived at Manchester City from Bayern Munich in 2016, is set to be succeeded by Enzo Maresca, 44, according to reports. The Italian coach, a former assistant to Guardiola at City, departed Chelsea in January 2026 and is understood to be the frontrunner to take charge at the Etihad.

Over the course of a decade in Manchester, Guardiola guided City to 20 trophies, transforming the club into one of the most dominant forces in European football. His honours at the club include multiple Premier League titles and a historic UEFA Champions League victory in the 2022/23 season — the cornerstone of a historic treble. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who served as Guardiola’s assistant at City before taking the reins at the Emirates, has also publicly reacted to the news of his mentor’s departure.

The timing of the announcement adds considerable pressure to City’s remaining fixtures, with the club needing results to salvage their Premier League campaign. A defeat at Bournemouth could have significant implications for their final league position, making Guardiola’s emotional exit announcement all the more disruptive in the short term.

Guardiola’s departure, when confirmed officially, will mark the end of a transformative era for Manchester City — one that elevated the club from Premier League contenders to perennial Champions League favourites and reshaped expectations across English football.