Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has firmly ruled out any possibility of returning to FC Barcelona in the future, reported by ESPN. Amid growing speculation, Guardiola, who has a contract with City until June 2025, clarified his stance during a news conference at his annual golf tournament, the Legends Trophy, held in Girona, Spain.

When asked on Monday about the chances of a comeback to Barcelona, where he led the team to 14 trophies in just four seasons, Guardiola was unequivocal: “It's a door that is closed.” This statement puts to rest any rumors of a potential reunion with the Catalan giants.

Guardiola explained the complexities of managing a club like Barcelona, highlighting the intense scrutiny and media attention that comes with the job. “The Barça bench is one of the most complicated because you have to manage many cases. In Manchester, everything we do remains inside and at Barça, everything comes out,” he said.

Success at Manchester City

Since joining Manchester City, Guardiola has enjoyed tremendous success. Under his leadership, City secured a record fourth-successive Premier League title and completed a historic treble. His tenure at City has solidified his reputation as one of the best managers in football history.

Despite his achievements, Guardiola hinted in May that the upcoming season could be his last at the Etihad. With his contract expiring in 2025, his future plans remain a topic of interest among fans and pundits alike.

Barcelona, on the other hand, finished the 2023-24 season without any trophies and recently appointed Hansi Flick as the new manager, replacing Xavi Hernández. Xavi, who took over in November 2021, was often compared to Guardiola but struggled to deliver the expected results.

Guardiola dismissed any responsibility for these comparisons, stating, “What is certain is that it's not my fault. I've been 11 or 12 years away from Barcelona. I'm not a suspect in that sense. Ask those that have made the comparisons, I haven't. I wish Xavi the best in finding a new challenge.”

Hansi Flick takes the helm at FC Barcelona

Pep Guardiola expressed his support for Hansi Flick, the new Barcelona manager. Flick, who had been out of work since being fired by the Germany national team in September 2023, is best known for his success with Bayern Munich, where he won the Champions League as part of a treble in 2020.

“I wish him the best of luck in the world,” Guardiola said. “When you arrive at a new club you always need help. You have to try to get help from within and have total support. You have to go little by little. You can't be champion in September or October.”

Guardiola praised Flick as an extraordinary person with a lot of desire and acknowledged the time needed to adapt and succeed at a new club. “What he did at Bayern was extraordinary, he won everything,” Guardiola added.

As Barcelona looks to rebuild, their arch-rivals Real Madrid continue to strengthen their squad. Real finished as LaLiga champions and recently signed French star Kylian Mbappé, adding to their already formidable lineup.

“With or without Mbappé, they are always strong,” Guardiola commented. “It's the rival to beat in the Champions League, without a doubt. Everyone knows that. For all of us that are behind them, it's a motivation to try to beat them. Madrid has always been very strong and they are adding up front a player that has a lot of strength.”

Pep Guardiola's clear stance on not returning to FC Barcelona closes a chapter on any speculation about his future. As he continues to lead Manchester City, his focus remains on maintaining their success while Barcelona embarks on a new era under Hansi Flick. The football world watches with keen interest as these two giants of the sport navigate their paths in the coming seasons.