Pep Guardiola Hints at Leaving Barcelona

Pep Guardiola: Thinking of Leaving Barca

Pep Guardiola, the man under whom Barcelona FC are having a golden run has hinted of leaving the club when his contract expire this summer.

The former Roma and Brescia midfielder, who took over the reign from Dutchman Frank Rijkaard, doesn’t like sticking to one particular club for long because “players tire of coaches and vice versa”.

In an interview to Italian Television station Rai Sport he said, “I think my time is ending here in Barcelona. I’m fine here, but when you’re at a club like this you cannot stay for too long because the players get tired of coaches and vice-versa.”

“Next year will be the fourth consecutive season as coach of Barcelona. Such a club must have a lot of courage to take a coach for so long, because the players get tired of coaches and vice-versa.”

Asked if he might one day coach in Italy, the former Brescia and Roma midfielder added: “I’ll come if I still want to coach. It takes enthusiasm and more to make such a decision.”

Coy about his future he agreed in February to extend his deal until June 2012 having won eight of 10 trophies contested in just over two-and-a-half years in charge including a treble of La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey in his first season.

The Catalan club are currently five points clear at the top of the Spanish league, through to the final of the Copa del Rey and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

With his future uncertain (to the Media), there is a speculation about the 40 year old taking over at Manchester United when Alex Furguson retires. Inter Milan President Massimo Moratti is also known to have expressed his admiration for Guardiola.