Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is set to leave the Etihad at the end of the season, as per reports.
With multiple reports confirming Guardiola will leave the Etihad at the end of the 2025/26 season, the 55-year-old Spaniard is set to become the most sought-after manager in world football. While Enzo Maresca remains the favourite to succeed him at City, attention has quickly turned to what comes next for the serial winner.
As Pep Guardiola prepares to bring an end to his glittering decade at Manchester City, speculation is already swirling about his next destination - and the most explosive possibility of all: Old Trafford.
Could the ultimate plot twist see Guardiola cross the Manchester divide and take charge of Manchester United?
Manchester United are on the verge of confirming Michael Carrick as their permanent head coach after his impressive
interim spell. The former United midfielder stepped in during January 2026 following Ruben Amorim's exit and has guided the club back into the Champions League with a strong run of results, including vital derby victories. A two-year deal with an option for a third is understood to be agreed, offering stability at Old Trafford.
Yet the allure of Pep Guardiola remains magnetic. Insiders suggest that while Carrick has earned the right to lead United into next season, a sensational approach for Guardiola, even as a long-term plan, cannot be entirely ruled out. The Catalan has previously met with Sir Alex Ferguson to discuss the United job, and his tactical brilliance could represent the "galactico reset many fans crave.
Guardiola has always spoken warmly of the Premier League and the intensity of Manchester derbies. A move across the city would be seismic, healing old rivalries for some, igniting new ones for others. For now, it remains pure speculation. Guardiola has given little away about his future, only hinting at possible fatigue after ten years of relentless pressure.
Whether he chooses a national team role, a return to Spain, or one final Premier League challenge, one thing is certain: wherever Pep goes next, football will be watching. Will the destination be Man United? It seems a far-fetched theory for now.
