Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman of Manchester City, has revealed that Pep Guardiola threatened to leave the club on numerous occasions before finally departing last month. Comparing the manager to the boy who cried wolf, Mubarak said Guardiola 'quit 100 times' during his ten-year tenure, but only meant it once.
Guardiola left City after leading the club to 17 major honours, including multiple Premier League titles. He initially signed a three-year deal and agreed four extensions, but was hesitant each time. Mubarak, who described himself as Guardiola's 'psychiatrist', said he often had to convince the manager to stay. 'When he says 'I quit', it doesn't mean he's quitting,' Mubarak explained.
The chairman noted that Guardiola never intended to stay beyond four years, but was persuaded to remain. However, Mubarak recognised when Guardiola genuinely wished to leave. 'He knew – and I knew that he knew – and that's why it was the right thing for him,' he said. 'I did not fight this at all because I knew this was the time he meant it.'
With Enzo Maresca lined up as Guardiola's replacement, Mubarak expressed confidence that City would continue to win titles. 'This is a club that is designed, built to win,' he said. 'What Pep has given us has taken us to the next level.'
Mubarak also addressed speculation surrounding striker Erling Haaland, after Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme held up a Madrid shirt with Haaland's name on it. Mubarak praised Haaland as a 'leader' and 'goalscoring machine', while City have threatened legal action over the incident.
