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Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has revealed that Pep Guardiola chose to leave the club because he could no longer bring himself to tell players they had been left out of the squad.
Guardiola still had one year remaining on the two-season deal he signed in 2025, but chose to step down last month after spending a decade at the club. City missed out on the Premier League title for only the fourth time since the Spaniard's arrival in 2016, yet still wrapped up the season with a domestic cup double.
Guardiola admitted after the final match of the 2025–26 season that he was "so tired" following years of relentless pursuit of excellence. Reijnders has since expanded on those comments, sharing in an interview with Dutch outlet De Telegraaf what the long-tenured manager had communicated to his players.
Reijnders described Guardiola as a "very intense manager and a football genius," expressing regret that he had only been able to work alongside the celebrated coach for a single season.
"It is his choice," the former AC Milan midfielder reflected. "He told us he no longer has the energy to let players down when they're not in the squad or not getting minutes. After 10 years, it is enough. And I understand that. When I say 'intense coach,' I mean that in a very positive way, by the way. He pushes a group of players to get the absolute best out of them."
Guardiola's Reason for Leaving Man City Teases Next Job
His waning appetite for the daily grind of club management may explain why Guardiola is widely anticipated to transition into international football should he ever take charge of another team. In the near term, he will serve as an ambassador and adviser to the City Football Group, though he first spoke about his ambition to one day guide a nation through a World Cup and continental tournament as early as 2018.
The 55-year-old has previously ruled out the prospect of managing Spain, despite earning 47 caps for his country between 1992 and 2001. He has never publicly explained his reasoning, though Guardiola is a proud Catalan who has in recent years voiced support for the region's independence movement.
Even with Spain largely out of the picture, numerous other nations could be in contention—among them the United States, England, Italy, Mexico, and even the United Arab Emirates.
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Man City Reset Not a Guarantee for Reijnders
While he may be disappointed not to have spent more time under Guardiola, Reijnders could welcome a potential fresh start at Manchester City heading into his second season at the club.
The Dutch international showed promise at the FIFA Club World Cup last summer before going on to establish himself as a regular starter in his first Premier League campaign. He hit a productive scoring run midway through the season, netting four of his five league goals within a single month, before losing his place in the side once February arrived.
Reijnders started just two of City's final 15 Premier League fixtures, one of which came after the title race had already been conceded to Arsenal. He was an unused substitute in nine of those matches, with Guardiola opting to deploy Rodri and Bernardo Silva in the center of midfield. Nico González also ranked ahead of him in the pecking order, further restricting Reijnders to a peripheral role.
With Silva leaving on a free transfer, there is a clear opening in the squad that Reijnders appears well positioned to fill. Even Rodri's future is in doubt amid notable interest from Real Madrid.
The key concern, however, is that City's top transfer priority lies in midfield. A bidding war with Manchester United is taking shape over Elliot Anderson, while Enzo Fernández has also been identified as a potential target following his turbulent spell at Chelsea.