Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is unsurprisingly being linked with the Barcelona job after this weekend's developments in Catalonia.
On Saturday night, following his side's 5-3 loss to Villarreal, Xavi announced he would be stepping down at Camp Nou following the culmination of the campaign. Explaining his decision, the club's legendary midfielder added: "I decided a few days ago, but I think it's time. The club needs a change of dynamic."
Such a big announcement set the rumour mill into overdrive as attention turned to who would come in next. On Tuesday evening, El Chiringuito TV claimed Barca president Joan Laporta was ready to pull out the stops to try and convince Guardiola to leave the Etihad Stadium.
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It was explained that Laporta was willing to 'beg' the Catalonian head coach to return to the club. Following news of Barca's masterplan, MEN Sport has taken a look at what Guardiola has previously said about returning to his boyhood team.
Guardiola's one condition for leaving City
Speaking at a gala in Catalonia in 2022, Guardiola named the one condition for him to leave the Blues for Barca. "It's a bad way to see it that I have to go back because Pep left and Barca kept winning," he explained.
"You shouldn't think like that. If I thought I was indispensable, I would return, but that's not the case.
"There are stages, there are processes, and if one day I have to meet again, we will meet again in a natural way. I feel very good there [at City], very comfortable, they give me everything and I have very good friends close by.
"To continue you have to have very good players and when you have continuity in a club it's because those above give you a lot of support. The city is not Barcelona, I'm not at home. That's obvious, but every three days there is a game and I prepare them. That makes me feel good in Manchester and at City. At City, I feel at home."
Opening the door to Barcelona
Fast forward to January 2023 and Guardiola's stance on a return to Barcelona looked to have softened. When asked about Mikel Arteta leaving City for Arsenal, the manager gave this analogy: "If I'm training here, wherever and Barcelona calls me, I'll go to Barcelona, it's my club.
"This boy likes Arsenal. Everyone has dreams and I know he went to his club, the club he dreamed of. He was a fan of Arsenal by playing there, he was captain and he loved that club so I did not want to oppose him. Life is too short. You have to fly."
Guardiola's contract hint
Just last Friday, after the news of Jurgen Klopp's exit, Guardiola hinted at extending his stay at City further. "I don't want to compare with him but in Barcelona, I had that feeling to reflect or analyse and go for another one," he explained.
"Please, leave me alone. Maybe that is the feeling that Jurgen felt.
"I'm fine. I want to do it still for one more year, and maybe extend. I'm fine. I still try to manage. We can't do more than last season but what is important is one step at a time."
The Puma home shirt features the traditional sky blue colour but has slightly darker blue detailed stripes across the front which take inspiration from the Etihad Stadium's walkways. City moved to their new home from Maine Road in 2003 and the shirt honours that anniversary.
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