(Credit: Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sun 15 March 2026 9:00, UK

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Manchester City still want Pep Guardiola to stay on beyond this season despite the club facing an early bow out of the Champions League after defeat to Real Madrid.

City‘s failure to win a major trophy for the first time in eight years last season led to many questions around Guardiola‘s future in charge of the club ahead of this campaign.

The Catalan boss is one of the most successful managers in football history, with 12 league titles to his name across his post-playing career, but some cracks have formed at the Etihad Stadium in recent times.

They lost 3-0 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie in midweek, but as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, plans to retain Guardiola have still not changed.

He still has one year left on his contract as it stands, but Man City could be searching for a new manager this summer if Guardiola chooses to move on after 10 years in charge of the club.

Man City still want Pep Guardiola to stay at the club

City have it all to do in the second leg of their clash with Madrid, and also look set to be beaten to the Premier League crown by Arsenal this season.

They are through to the Carabao Cup final against the Gunners and the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, however, and Guardiola will not want to bow out of his successful City spell without another trophy to his name.

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “I don’t think the defeat to Real Madrid and the potential early exit from the Champions League will have any immediate influence on Guardiola’s future.

“(There has been) a lot of talk that he could end up leaving at the end of the season, but obviously he won’t want to bow out with an early Champions League exit on his CV in his final season at the club

“Man City will let Pep Guardiola make whatever decision he wants to make. It’ll be in his own hands, and there won’t be any forcing him.

“If Pep wants to stand down come the end of the season after a long time in charge at City, I think it’s been over nine years now at the club, I think they’ll be they’ll go along with his wishes in that respect.

“They would love to keep him, but if he feels it is the right time to move on, then the club will reluctantly choose to accept it.

“I think if he’s going to make that decision, he probably has made it already. I don’t think results between now and the end of the season will have any major influence on that decision.”

Man City also want to keep Phil Foden despite recent struggles

Guardiola has handed Foden just one start in the Citizens’ last five games in all competitions, but he remains a key part of the club’s plans going forward.

The 25-year-old has notched 13 goals and six assists in 43 appearances for City this season, but last netted back in mid-December against Crystal Palace and has not been at his best throughout the campaign.

Despite his woes, Football Insider have revealed that City chiefs want Foden to sign a new contract as he nears the final year of his own deal.

It would certainly be a shock to see both Guardiola and Foden leave the Etihad this summer, but that reality cannot be ruled out until they each publicly confirm otherwise.