Pep Guardiola has revealed he did not extend his contract at Bayern Munich because he wants to manage in the Premier League.
Guardiola was speaking at his first press conference since announcing he will leave the Bundesliga champions at the end of the season.
He said: “I haven’t decided on a new club yet. I want to experience a new city and I want to work in England. That is the reason I have taken this decision.
“I have some offers from England, but I’ve not signed anything yet. If I were 60, 65-years-old, I’d stick with Bayern, but I think I’m too young. I need a new challenge.
“My career is a long way from over and when I have a new club it will be the club that makes the announcement. At the moment I cannot say anything else because nothing is fixed.”
Guardiola’s departure at the end of his third season in Bavaria – and his replacement Carlo Ancelotti – were announced by the club on December 20.
The 44-year-old has since been linked with Chelsea after Jose Mourinho was sacked, and also with Manchester City and Manchester United.
Guardiola ruled out the prospect of persuading any of Bayern’s star names to join him at his new club, saying: “I will not take any players. They have to stay here.”
Guardiola took over from Jupp Heynckes in the summer of 2013 on a three-year contract and has won back-to-back Bundesliga titles, as well as the DFB-Pokal, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
That haul is almost certainly going to be added to this season, complementing an impressive trophy haul that includes, amongst others, two Champions League and three Primera Division titles from his time as Barcelona boss.
City remain the bookmakers’ favourites to give Guardiola his first taste of management in England; the Spaniard previously worked with City’s chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Beguiristain during his time at Barcelona.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is said to be a great admirer of Guardiola and is on the look-out for a permanent successor to Mourinho, with Guus Hiddink in interim charge at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season.
As for United, Louis van Gaal’s immediate future seems secure but the Old Trafford board could possibly be tempted to replace one former Bayern Munich boss with another. -Skysports.
