Pep Guardiola’s Man City vow and clear opinion as international side agree massive deal

Pep Guardiola has long been linked with Brazil as part of his one remaining goal in management, but the Manchester City boss may need to replace Carlo Ancelotti to achieve it

Pep Guardiola made it abudantly clear to Manchester City that he won’t be managing another club side, confessing a desire to take on a national team in the future. However, despite his name being tossed around for the Brazil job, it seems he’ll not take up the reins any time soon as Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti is believed to next in line.

During a rocky patch last December where City only secured a single win in nine games, sparking speculation about his tenure, the Spaniard admitted that embarking on another club stint was something he “didn’t have the energy for”.

The 54-year-old has made no secret of his ambitions to claim international glory, fancying the idea of clinching either the European Championship or World Cup. Although whispers emerged of Brazil’s interest in having Guardiola helm their quest for the 2026 World Cup glory, Ancelotti is now reported to have taken over those aspirations.

After he was approached last summer about potentially taking England’s reins prior to signing a fresh two-year contract with City, Guardiola confided in celebrity chef Dani Garcia on his YouTube channel about just what his future holds.

“I’m not going to manage another team,” Guardiola affirmed back in December. “I’m not talking about the long-term future, but what I’m not going to do is leave Manchester City, go to another country, and do the same thing as now.

“I wouldn’t have the energy. The thought of starting somewhere else, all the process of training and so on. No, no, no. Maybe a national team, but that’s different. I want to leave it and go and play golf, but I can’t [if I take a club job]. I think stopping would do me good.”

Earlier in 2024, the Spaniard disclosed the competitions he would love to win at such a level, stating: “A national team. I would like to train a national team for a World Cup or a European Championship. I would like that.”

The Athletic reported in November that Brazil were a suitor attempting to pry Guardiola away from City, but other head coaches were included on their shortlist to replace Dorival Junior, who was later sacked in March.

However, the Spanish coach penned his two-year extension to remain at the Etihad until 2027 that month, and so upon the national side sacking their coach, he would have been all but unable to take up the position. Now, it is reported that Ancelotti is set to head the role in June as part of a blockbuster deal, leaving behind the 15-time Champions League-winning Real.

Guardiola has spoken fondly of his Italian counterpart in the past, including before the two met in Europe earlier this year – a two-legged affair that saw City knocked out by a 6-3 aggregate scoreline.

“I will never consider that Carlo Ancelotti is a bad coach tactically,” Guardiola said in a February press conference previewing the pair’s Champions League clash. “See where he put [Andrea] Pirlo in Milan, how he uses [Toni] Kroos, and the position of [Jude] Bellingham. In Manchester, we consider him to be a great coach, in everything.”

He continued to TNT Sports: “Exceptional person, we have a good relationship. We don’t see each other much. He’s more experienced, a little older! He’s been in many leagues with success. How he makes teams work, all the success [shows] how good he is.”

While Ancelotti is pinned to steer Brazil’s national team until at least after the 2026 World Cup, Guardiola’s tenure in Manchester, which ends in 2027, leaves the door slightly ajar for discussions on whether the revered coach might one day export his managerial genius to South America.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.