Before last month’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Guardiola was asked whether the visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last. He replied by saying “no way”, and that he had “one more year [on his contract]”.
But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows, adding to the mounting speculation.
Guardiola was asked after the draw at Bournemouth on 19 May whether he would still be in charge next season and he replied by saying he had to talk to Khaldoon. His decision was confirmed three days later.
“He’s more than just the manager of the club,” said Khaldoon. “To me, he’s a friend. Over these years we have become close friends and I don’t know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist.
“Inevitably we have had a lot of ups and some downs and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years.
“There is the story as you all know, The Boy that Cries Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says I quit, it doesn’t mean he’s quitting. You don’t take it that seriously – you have to manage him.”
Guardiola joined the club in 2016 and signed contract extensions in May 2018, November 2020, November 2022 and November 2024.
Khaldoon said: “He never thought he would stay more than four years, then more than five years. So in his mind, even year four and five it was always ‘OK, how much more time? How much more time?’ And it always had to be done in the correct way.
“There was always going to be one moment where it was going to be real.”