Manchester City’s sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, is set to depart at the end of the season, potentially affecting Pep Guardiola’s decision on his own future at the club. Begiristain, who joined City in 2012 after a successful stint at Barcelona, where he had recommended Guardiola for the head coaching role, has been a key figure in City’s success over the years.

Having worked closely with Guardiola at Barcelona, Begiristain was instrumental in bringing the Catalan manager to City in 2016. The two share a close friendship and have regular breakfast meetings to discuss the club’s strategy, highlighting the importance of their relationship.

Guardiola’s contract with City is set to expire next summer, and he has not yet made a decision on whether to extend his stay. While it is expected that Guardiola will make a decision during the winter months, Begiristain’s departure could impact his thought process.

In a statement about his future on Friday, Guardiola expressed his love for the club since day one and hinted at the possibility of staying on, saying, “What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, let’s see [what will happen] – look at how everything is going and how connected we are. When it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”

As fans eagerly await Guardiola’s decision, the departure of Begiristain adds another layer of intrigue to City’s future plans. Stay tuned for more developments on this story as it unfolds.