Manchester City faces the risk of a profound overhaul of the squad after the confirmation of Pep Guardiola’s departure at the end of the 2025/26 season. The Catalan coach, who led the club for a successful decade with 20 titles, leaves the Etihad Stadium amid speculation about the future of several key players.
Several names from the current base are being linked to possible exits. Among them, Nico González, Rico Lewis, Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, Mateo Kovacic, James Trafford and Nathan Aké appear as candidates to leave the club this summer. The list reflects the need for adjustments to the cast for the new cycle.
Josko Gvardiol, on the other hand, is analyzing a renewal proposal until 2030, despite interest from Bayern Munich and Barcelona. The Croatian defender is seen as a central piece for the future project.
- Ruben Dias on Real Madrid’s radar
- Interest could gain strength with Mourinho
- City seeks reinforcements in specific positions
Ruben Dias appears as one of the most talked about targets. The Portuguese captain attracts attention from Real Madrid, especially now that José Mourinho is expected to take charge of the Whites after the re-election of Florentino Pérez. This connection between Pep’s departure and Mourinho’s arrival in Madrid could speed up negotiations that previously seemed distant.
The transition is already underway. Enzo Maresca is the most popular name to succeed Guardiola and is already working behind the scenes with football director Hugo Viana on plans for the summer. The Italian arrives with the mission of keeping City competitive, but will need to deal with a squad that could shrink significantly.
The end of the Guardiola era marks the end of a cycle of dominance in English and European football. Many athletes arrived at the club attracted by the project led by the Spanish coach. Without him at the helm, the club needs to rebuild ties and motivations to avoid a greater stampede than planned.
In the coming weeks, the board must define which departures will be released and which hires will come to balance the group. Reinforcements are expected especially on the right flank, midfield and attack, with names like Elliot Anderson and Pedro Porro already being monitored.