Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak says Pep Guardiola repeatedly considered quitting as manager, telling multiple outlets that Guardiola “threatened to quit 100 times” before eventually leaving. Khaldoon describes conversations in which he talked Guardiola around on previous occasions and suggests Guardiola’s earlier hints were not fully serious. Several reports note Khaldoon compares the pattern to Aesop’s “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” implying Guardiola’s earlier statements were perceived as exaggerated or exaggeratedly timed, even though he was ultimately intent on leaving at the end of his tenure.
The accounts place Guardiola’s exit after a decade at City, during which he led the club to major trophy wins, including Premier League titles and Champions League success. One report says Guardiola had only planned to stay for around four years at most, despite signing an initial three-year deal and later agreeing extensions. Across the coverage, Khaldoon portrays himself as closely involved in Guardiola’s decision-making during difficult periods, including describing himself as a key figure in persuading him to remain before his final departure.
