Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Fri 29 May 2026 17:00, UK

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Pep Guardiola’s emotional departure as Manchester City boss has no correlation with the club’s soon-to-be announced verdict on their 115 charges.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Catalan is just desperate for a break and is likely to return to football after a year out.

Man City are soon set to learn their fate over the financial charges being aimed at the club, with rumoured punishments being anything between fines, points deductions or stripping of league titles.

Rival supporters have suggested that Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad Stadium coincidentally comes just before the verdict is to be announced, triggering alarm bells over a potentially huge punishment this summer.

Pep Guardiola conspiracies called out ahead of 115 charges verdict

Guardiola leaves the Citizens after a decade with the club, lifting 20 major trophies during his time in England, and becoming one of, if not the most, iconic managers in Premier League history.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson set the record straight as football fans continue to create conspiracies about the 55-year-old’s heartbreaking departure at the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

“Just watch the videos. I don’t think it has anything to do with the 115 charges at all. I think it’s pretty clear that he’s got a level of burnout from three games a week for the best part of 15 years,” Borson said.

“In the video with Noel Gallagher, he does explain that the only time off that he’s had was when he did a year off in New York, but he knew he was going to Bayern Munich.

“About halfway through that, he started all the prep for Bayern Munich. So he said, really, he’s not had a break for, since before Bayern Munich, but even then it was only five months.

“I think what’s going to happen there is he’s going to have his break, let’s say a year, right? And then he’s probably going to be quite bored, and he’s going to feel quite energised, and he’s probably going to just go and find something to get him back in the game.”

What ‘issue’ is Enzo Maresca already facing at Man City?

Enzo Maresca appears set to replace Guardiola this summer, and unsurprisingly, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Keith Wyness believes that living up to his predecessor could be a huge “issue” already.

Nonetheless, while an announcement has not yet been made about the former Chelsea boss’ appointment, it is believed that he has already begun plans for the summer transfer window.

If rumours are to be believed, Maresca wants to reunite with midfielder Enzo Fernandez, but the Blues are unlikely to allow him to leave for anything less than £120million.

There are also new question marks surrounding Jack Grealish’s future, with talks expected to take place ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. Everton fans will be biting their fingernails over the summer months.