Pep Guardiola drops clearest retirement hint yet just weeks before new Premier League season

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola revealed when he may consider retiring.

The Catalan will be hoping to bounce back after an uncharacteristically poor campaign last term, in which Manchester City failed to win any silverware.

In turn, City have strengthened significantly this summer, with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders having been signed early in the window, alongside back up goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli and teenage prospect Sverre Nypan.

Shot-stopper James Trafford is also widely expected to join Guardiola’s men, as City look to reclaim their place at the Premier League summit and in the latter stages of the Champions League.

With Guardiola at the helm City’s revival feels likely. But how long will City be able to cling on to the 54-year-old?

On the prospect of retirement, Guardiola told Spanish GQ: “I don't know. The truth is, I don't know, but I don't think I'm... I don't know, because you can also have large work groups that help you with certain things.

“I know that after this stage with City I'm going to stop, that's for sure, it's decided, more than decided.

Pep Guardiola during the Club World Cup. (Image: Getty)

“I don't know how long I'll stop for, a year, two years, three years, five, ten, fifteen, I don't know. But I'm going to stop after this stage with City, because I need to stop and focus on myself, on my body.

“In Catalan, they say ‘badar’. I want to do this, simply stop and watch the cows go by when the train goes by.

“My grandfather used to say, you look at me like cows watching the train go by. Well, that's it, you have to stop and watch it go by.

“And then life... I had never thought that I would coach, that I would go to Germany to coach, to England, and be the coach of Barcelona, or that I would play for Barcelona.

“We think we're in control, but no, something's bound to happen that'll put something in front of me, and I'll say: ‘Oh, do I want to do this or not?’ And if not, well, I'll figure it out. And I think my plan now is this: stop, stop... And then we'll see.”