Pep Guardiola’s new one-year contract with Manchester City does not contain a termination clause should the club be relegated from the Premier League after being found guilty of financial wrongdoing as the case moves before an independent commission would be resolved.
The club is defending itself against more than 100 accusations made by the Premier League. The city denies all allegations. Yet, if champions are found guilty, depending on the severity of the verdict, a potential sanction is division demotion. Guardiola has agreed new terms with the club that extends his tenure until the summer of 2026, but the Catalan, it seems, does not have an agreement that he can walk away from the deal before that date if City loses their Premier League status.
Guardiola has previously insisted he would relish managing City in a lower league if it was forced on them. A year ago the 53-year-old was asked if he would consider his job if City were found guilty and relegated. “A good question,” he replied. “I will answer when I have the sentence.
“You question it like we’ve been punished.” And at that point, we are innocent until proven guilty. I know people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see and once the sentence is said, we will come here and explain it to you. But I absolutely won’t consider my future [if] it depends on being here [Premier League] or be in League One. Absolutely. There is a greater chance of staying if we are in Ligue 1 than if we were in the Champions League.
Guardiola has led City to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup since taking charge in 2016.