Pep Guardiola extended his stay at Manchester City with a two-year contract last week, ending speculation about his future.
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The deal ties him to the Etihad Stadium until 2026, giving hope to fans amid a challenging period. However, Gary Neville believes the contract comes with assurances of a significant rebuild for Guardiola’s team next summer.
The extension came during a tough run for City, who suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday, their fifth consecutive loss. With Rodri sidelined for the rest of the season and Mateo Kovacic injured, City are expected to address their midfield crisis in the January transfer window. However, Neville sees deeper issues across the squad that may require a more extensive overhaul.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United captain shared his thoughts:
“Winning the title this season would arguably be Pep Guardiola’s greatest Premier League achievement based on what we’ve seen so far,” Neville said. “I expect they’ll bring in a midfielder in January to address the immediate problem, but the bigger promise to Pep must be an extensive reinvestment next summer.”
Neville speculated that while a midfield addition is likely in January, a large-scale rebuild will wait until the off-season. He pointed to broader struggles, noting the team’s physical and mental fatigue during the loss to Tottenham.
“The back four looked completely drained—beaten physically and mentally,” Neville said. “Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva on the right, with Gundogan and Savinho on the left, alongside Phil Foden, just couldn’t cope.”
City’s current woes, exacerbated by Rodri’s absence, have raised questions about their ability to contend for the title this season. Guardiola’s decision to stay, according to Neville, likely reflects assurances of a spectacular transfer budget to address their squad deficiencies.
For City fans, the promise of reinforcements and Guardiola’s continued leadership offer hope during an otherwise challenging campaign.