Man City’s 115 charges will ‘cloud’ Pep Guardiola’s legacy, expert suggests the real reason he’s leaving
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could walk away from the Etihad with the club’s 115 charges case left unresolved.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, as Guardiola looks poised to leave Man City at the end of the season.
Guardiola is expected to be replaced by former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca before a decision is publicly announced on Man City’s 115 charges case which has been ongoing since March 2019.
The Spaniard has won 20 trophies during his 10-year stay at Man City, including a Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season.
Guardiola still has a year left on his Man City contract, but the 55-year-old could take a break from the game following a decade in the Premier League.
👔 Man City Manager News 👔
Get the inside track on the Etihad dugout with real-time updates on shortlist candidates and technical leadership strategy.
VISIT THE MANAGER HUBPep Guardiola has been a ‘great addition to the Premier League’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Guardiola has “personal issues” that could be behind his decision to leave Man City.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness compares Guardiola to former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson following his success at the Etihad.
| Games Managed | 591 |
| Games Won | 423 |
| Games Drawn | 76 |
| Games Lost | 92 |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I do think there are some personal issues that Pep wants to resolve in Spain and I wish him the best of luck.
“He’s given us all some great entertainment. He’s lucky. We all know he’s a feisty competitor, but a very talented, very deep thinker. He’s been a great addition to the Premier League. He goes with all of our best wishes.
“Of course, that cloud will still be there with the 115 charges, whatever happens there. But that shouldn’t tarnish his ability to put a squad together, even though it may have been better than perhaps he may have been given if it hadn’t been for the 115 charges.
“Regardless of whatever standard they were, he had to put them together and make it work. He certainly did that successfully and kept a very strong dressing room, a bit like Fergie.”
Man City prepare Rodri contract talks
Whilst Man City will not stop Guardiola deciding when he leaves the club, they are keen to tie midfielder Rodri down to a new contract.
Sources have told Football Insider that Man City want to accelerate talks with Rodri over a new deal, with Real Madrid waiting to sign the 29-year-old.
Rodri’s current Man City contract expires in 2027, but he remains a key part of the squad, and fellow midfielder Bernardo Silva is already leaving the club this summer.
However, Man City do not want to let Rodri leave on a free next year, and they would accept an offer if he expressed his desire to depart.
Don’t Miss a Beat: Your Man City Insider Access
Get the full story from the Etihad Stadium and CFA with our dedicated expert hubs:
Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the Etihad Campus.