Why Pep Guardiola wants to leave Manchester City in 2023 - and where he wants to go next

Pep Guardiola has said he plans to leave Manchester City when his current contract runs out in 2023 - with his sights set on international management.

The 50-year-old Catalan, who joined City in 2016 and has won three Premier League titles, feels he will need a rest after seven years in charge.

And the former Barcelona boss revealed his next ambition is to take charge of a national team.

“Next step will be a national team, if there is a possibility. A national team is the next step,” he said at an XP Investimentos event, as reported by ESPN on Wednesday.

“After seven years on this team, I think I’m going to have a stop. I’m going to have to take a break, see what we’ve done.

“And in the process, I would like to train a South American (team), European, playing a Copa America, I want to have that experience.”

Guardiola took a 12-month break following his departure from Barcelona in 2012 after four years at the Nou Camp, and joined Bayern Munich in 2013.

Guardiola’s comments will come as a further blow to the City hierarchy on the day their pursuit of Harry Kane ended, with the England captain confirming he would be staying at Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

However, the Premier League champions have been linked with a sensational move for former Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who is reportedly looking for a way out of current employers Juventus. Although, with less than a week until the close of the transfer window, City have very limited time to make a deal happen.