Pep Guardiola Insists That Barcelona Return Door Potentially 'Closed'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has essentially rejected the idea of a potential return to his former club Barcelona as his contract with City expires by the end of the year 2025. 

Pep Gurdiola's tenure as Barcelona manager from 2008 to 2012 was one the most glorious phases of the Spanish club as he developed faces like Lionel Messi and Andrés Iniesta under his leadership. In Pep's transformative tenure, Barcelona won two Champions League titles, two European Super Cups, and three LA Liga titles, including a treble in the 2008-09 season. 

However, Barcelona's infamous internal politics and financial constraints forced Guardiola out. He then joined Bayern Munich before eventually taking over as manager of Manchester City. 

Pep Guardiola is now an even more successful manager in the Premier League as he guided City to a ground-breaking four PL titles, including a treble achieved last year. Widely regarded as the catalyst behind City's success, Pep's contract is expiring by the end of 2025. While Manchester initiated a deal to lock Pep for the next ten years, the Spanish manager isn't very keen on signing such a long-term commitment.

Moreover, with Xavi Hernandez sacked as Barcelona manager following the Champions League exit, rumors of Guardiola's potential reunion with his Catalan roots in Camp Nou gained momentum.

However, speaking to the reporters at his golf tournament, Pep Guardiola insisted that the door to Barcelona is essentially closed. He does not want to be associated with the high-pressure environment at Camp Nou ever again.

Pep explained that unlike Manchester City, locker room stuff gets leaked in Barcelona which makes bench management immensely complicated for him. 

""It's a door that is closed. The Barca bench is one of the most complicated because you have to manage many cases. In Manchester everything we do remains inside and at Barca, everything comes out." "

- Pep Guardiola

Having said that, Pep Guardiola wished Hansi Flick, Xavi's replacement, all the best for his upcoming tenure. He endorsed Flick as an extraordinary person who will also need time to prove his leadership skills.

""I wish him the best of luck in the world. Hansi is an extraordinary person, who has a lot of desire. A lot. But he needs his time. What he did at Bayern was extraordinary, he won everything.""

- Pep Guardiola

Meanwhile, Manchester City are yet to give up on Pep Guardiola. The English club are wary of a mass exodus following Pep's likely exit in 2025. Hence, to protect the club's interest and retain dominance in the Premier League, City will go above and beyond to convince Pep to stay for another 10 years.

But at the end of the day, it's Pep Guardiola we are talking about. Once he makes up his mind and says adios, there is no stopping that man. Still, even if the next PL season is Guardiola's last dance, City would strive hard for a memorable farewell.