Manchester City could be set to undergo a major rebuild in the upcoming transfer window, and may lose three legends of the club.
According to reports, manager Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva and Rodri are all expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
It marks the end of an era for Man City, in what has been one of the most successful periods of domination the Premier League has ever seen.
PEP’S LASTING LEGACY
When Guardiola first took charge of Man City in 2016, there were massive expectations.
He joined with the reputation of being not only one of the best managers in the world, but one of the best managers in the history of football.
He’d earned this title; at Barcelona, he won four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, with the help of a certain Argentinian, of course.
His next adventure led him to Germany, where he took charge of Bayern Munich, winning a further three league titles.
What happened next in Manchester, though, nobody could have predicted.
Guardiola has smashed record after record at the Etihad. It has been relentless.
Man City became ‘Centurions’ in the 2017/18 season, winning the Premier League with a record-breaking 100 points,
Since his arrival, the club have won six of the eight league titles available to them, including a mind-blowing four-peat.
Amongst all this, he led Man City to their first ever Champions League triumph alongside four FA Cups, four EFL Cups, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
Guardiola is set to announce a decision on his future following Man City’s upcoming Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
If the rumours are anything to go by, Man City fans should be gearing up for an emotional goodbye in May.
CAPTAINS, LEADERS, LEGENDS
As for Bernardo Silva and Rodri, they have been integral to much of Man City’s unrivalled success.
Having joined the club in 2017 and 2019 respectively, both players quickly became two of Guardiola’s go-to men.
Today, they are both members of the club’s leadership group, with Bernardo Silva appointed as club captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne.
Rodri will forever be adored by Man City fans not only because of his incredible consistency and on-the-ball prowess, but because of that night in Istanbul.
He scored the only goal of the game in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, etching his name into the Man City history books forever.
Both players are still performing to the highest level, but rumours suggest they may be looking to move on to new horizons this summer.
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WHAT’S NEXT FOR MAN CITY?
Succeeding Guardiola is no mean feat, and whoever takes on the job has one hell of a challenge on their hands.
One name has been heavily linked to the role: Enzo Maresca.
The former Chelsea boss has previous ties to the club, having spent a season as assistant manager in 2022/23.
Maresca went on to greatly impress during his time in charge of Leicester City, and earned himself a big move to the Chelsea dugout, but his time in west London was a mixed bag.
Given his previous experience at the club, as well as his style of play and potential, it’s an appointment that makes sense for Man City.
In terms of potential replacements for Rodri and Bernardo Silva, it remains unclear which direction the club will take.
It is expected, however, that Erling Haaland will remain at the club and look to spearhead success in a new era.
The Norwegian striker recently put pen to paper on a record-breaking nine-and-a-half year contract at Man City, the longest contract in Premier League history.
