Man City Title Race Overshadowed by Guardiola Exit Speculation

Man City preparing for life after Guardiola as exit looms  

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Enzo Maresca emerges as a top candidate to replace Pep Guardiola, who could leave City this summer. Fitness coach Buenaventura also set to depart.

Despite the title race with Arsenal, Guardiola's future is in doubt. A farewell against Villa on May 24th could be on the cards...

Pep Guardiola could walk away from Man City this summer, reports suggest.

Even if Manchester City edge out Arsenal for the Premier League title, Pep Guardiola might still leave the Etihad at the end of the season.

City kept the pressure on with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, cutting the gap to Arsenal to two points.

To lift the trophy, they’ll need to win their last two games against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, and hope Arsenal slip up against either Burnley or Palace.

But the bigger talking point isn’t just the title race. According to The Athletic’s Sam Lee, there’s a “genuine possibility” Guardiola could end his decade-long spell at City this summer. Lee says “several different sources in different departments around the City first team” expect him to depart.

City are already lining up plans for life after Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca seen as a leading candidate to replace him.

Manchester City fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

Those who know the Manchester City setup say it is difficult to imagine Pep Guardiola continuing to work at the club without Buenaventura, meaning the fitness coach’s departure… pic.twitter.com/AbUHVh1tva

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 14, 2026

The exit talk has picked up steam after fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura confirmed he’ll leave at the end of the season. He’s worked alongside Guardiola for over 15 years.

The two are said to be “extremely close,” with Buenaventura handling the physical side of training to match exactly how Guardiola wants the team to play.

If Guardiola is set to leave, an announcement would likely come before the final day. That would give City a chance to give him a proper send-off against Villa on May 24th, alongside John Stones and Bernardo Silva, who are also expected to depart.