Pep Guardiola quit '100 times' before, says City chairman

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has revealed that Pep Guardiola threatened to quit his role "100 times" during his decade-long tenure at the club. However, unlike previous occasions where the chairman would persuade him to stay, this time he knew the Spaniard was serious.

Guardiola managed the club since 2016, securing 17 major trophies including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory. Despite having one year left on his contract, he decided to step down, citing the need for "new energy" at the club.

Throughout these years, I've always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer. But in this particular one, I think he knew - and I knew that he knew - and that is why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing. Khaldoon Al Mubarak

Al Mubarak described himself as a "psychiatrist" to the manager, noting that they had become close friends over the years. He compared Guardiola's previous threats to resign to the boy who cried wolf, emphasizing that usually, you have to "manage him" through the difficult moments.

The club is now in the process of appointing a successor. Manchester City is understood to be in advanced talks with former assistant and Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. Al Mubarak asked fans for patience, promising that an announcement regarding the best possible manager will be made soon.