Ammon News - Pep Guardiola has said he plans to leave Manchester City when his current contract runs out in 2023. The 50-year-old Spaniard, 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 head coach 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 [national side], playing a Copa América – I want to have that experience.”

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

His 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 this summer.

*theguardian