Guardiola's Final Exit

Manchester City Chairman Reveals Pep Guardiola Threatened to Quit 100 Times Before Final Departure

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Pep Guardiola effectively threatened to leave “100 times” during his decade in charge, comparing the repeated “quit” talk to Aesop’s Boy Who Cried Wolf—something the club treated as not necessarily final until the real moment arrived. Al Mubarak described himself as Guardiola’s “psychiatrist,” portraying a close, almost personal relationship in which he repeatedly brought him back during difficult stretches. Across the decade, City remained confident Guardiola’s willingness to stay could be managed, and this year’s exit was framed as the one time the decision was genuinely settled. Guardiola’s final departure closed a highly successful spell that included multiple Premier League titles and major trophies. City is now moving quickly toward a successor, with Enzo Maresca expected to be appointed after what Al Mubarak called a thoughtful, structured process.

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