Pep Guardiola appears to have begun the process of moving out of his Manchester apartment after finally confirming his departure from Man City.
Guardiola will step down as Man City boss on Sunday after a trophy-laden 10 years in charge.
Hours after Man City confirmed Guardiola’s departure – revealed by Daily Mail Sport on Monday – removal men were seen appearing to take belongings away from his Manchester apartment, days before his final match in charge against Aston Villa at the Etihad.
Guardiola has been based at the Deansgate CitySuites in central Manchester during his time in charge of Man City.
The building is 16 storeys high and holds 237 one and two-bedroom apartments, all of which come with their own well-fitted kitchens and a large living room area.
Two floors are taken up by privately-owned apartments, with Guardiola having purchased his for £2.7m back in 2017.
Removal men have begun taking Pep Guardiola’s belongings out of his Manchester apartment
The removal of his belongings came hours after his departure from Man City was officially confirmed
Guardiola looks set to leave Manchester when he steps down as Man City boss on Sunday
Reports emerged this week that Guardiola is looking to return home to Barcelona and is set to purchase a luxury £13.5million property in the city.
The Catalan has lifted 17 major trophies at Man City after securing the FA Cup with victory over Chelsea – falling just short of adding a seventh Premier League crown before departing.
Talk around Guardiola’s future has been persistent all season and ex-coach and former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is expected to be announced as the new manager.
City announced the news on X with a video from Guardiola, who said: ‘When I arrived, my first video was with Noel Gallagher. I walk out thinking, “oh, Noel is here, this will be fun.”
‘And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons why I’m leaving. There is no reason. But deep inside I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal. If it was, it would be here.
‘Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.
‘This is a city built from work, from graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clock in early and who stay late.
‘The factories, the bankers, the unions, the music. Simply, the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did, too. We work and we suffer. We fought and we did things our own way. Our way.
Guardiola confirmed his Man City exit on Friday after Daily Mail Sport revealed the news earlier this week
Guardiola has been living at the Deansgate CitySuites, located in the heart of Manchester
‘Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League and you were there. And trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too.
‘Remember the Manchester Arena Attack? When the city showed the world what strength actually looks like. Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community, togetherness, a City united.
‘I remember losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.
‘Players, don’t forget – every single instant, every single moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.
‘So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me.
‘Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place.
‘Noel…I was right. It has been so f****** fun.
‘Love you all.’
Guardiola praised the club for ‘carrying’ him through the death of his mum during Covid-19, as well as thanking his family and wife, Cristina Serra, for their support
The Catalan has lifted 17 major trophies with the Etihad club – here he is pictured with the FA Cup trophy in 2019, his first of three
Guardiola masterminded a domestic Treble in 2019 and then became only the second coach of an English team to complete the league, FA Cup and Champions League Treble four years later
On Monday, Daily Mail Sport revealed that Guardiola had finalised a decision to leave the Etihad Stadium. It’s understood that he will take a break from coaching.
Guardiola masterminded a domestic Treble in 2019 and then became only the second coach of an English team to complete the league, FA Cup and Champions League Treble four years later.
City’s cohort of 2018 hold the record for being the only team in English history to reach 100 points in a top-flight season and Guardiola will leave behind a legacy that should be impossible to match.
City have organised a parade to celebrate the men and women’s teams on Monday, with an after-party event being held at the Co-op Live arena next to the Etihad that will mark the departing stars and their manager.
The club announced on Friday that the Etihad’s North Stand expansion will be named after Pep Guardiola – with the manager also having a statue made in his honour.
An additional 7,000 seats will be open behind one goal for Guardiola’s final match of a decade-long reign against Aston Villa on Sunday.
