Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the upcoming season.

Gary Neville has shared his reaction to the stunning news about Guardiola’s departure, calling it a ‘game-changing’ development for Manchester City and the Premier League.

The Spanish manager is expected to exit Manchester City after the 2025/26 campaign, having already secured the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, while still in contention for the Premier League crown.

Between 2020 and 2024, Guardiola guided City to four consecutive league titles, before Liverpool ended their dominance in the 2024/25 season. Arsenal are now on course to challenge for the trophy this year.

Arsenal earned a narrow 1-0 victory over relegated Burnley in their second-last league match on Monday night.

The result means the Gunners are only one game away — against Crystal Palace — from clinching their first Premier League title in 22 years.

During commentary for Arsenal’s win, Gary Neville reacted to reports from the Daily Mail regarding Guardiola’s impending departure and criticised the timing of the leak.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the former Manchester United captain said: “I’m shocked that this has come out now. Not only because it’s during this game, but also on the eve of a Manchester City fixture.”

He continued, “It reminds me of times when big managerial exits were announced — Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Manchester United, or more recently Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool. These are seismic moments in football.”

“Such news changes everything, and I don’t think Manchester City would want this story to break right now. If the reports are true, both the club and Pep Guardiola will be extremely disappointed that it has surfaced at this moment.”

Since taking charge of City in 2016, Guardiola has delivered an extraordinary six Premier League titles, including record-breaking 100-point and 98-point seasons in 2017 and 2018.

Ranked fifth in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest football managers of all time, the Spaniard has also guided City to two UEFA Champions League finals — losing to Chelsea in 2021 but winning against Inter Milan in 2023 as part of a historic treble.

Guardiola has been denied the Premier League title only twice during his tenure — first by Jurgen Klopp and again by Arne Slot, both at Liverpool.

His former assistant at City, Mikel Arteta, now at Arsenal, is on track to become the first non-Liverpool manager to dethrone Guardiola, with his side currently five points clear at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, reports from transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano suggest that former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has reached a verbal agreement to become Manchester City’s next head coach.

Guardiola is expected to oversee his final two Premier League fixtures as City manager — against Bournemouth later today and Aston Villa on the final matchday — aiming to sign off with a seventh league title in England.