Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has appeared to suggest he won’t be pursuing a deal for Lionel Messi after signing a new contract.
After fears he could leave City at the end of the season, Guardiola has put pen to paper on a new deal which now runs to the summer of 2023.
Guardiola has enjoyed stunning success at the Etihad with two Premier League title, one FA Cup win and three League Cups.
The Champions League continues to elude City and Messi has been said to be the missing piece for Guardiola to win Europe’s top prize.
The Argentine superstar’s future at the Nou Camp is unclear with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and strained relations with the board.
But in his statement announcing his new deal, Guardiola says he has everything he needs to be successful.
He said: “Ever since I arrived at Manchester City I have been made to feel so welcome in the Club and in the city itself- from the players, the staff, the supporters, the people of Manchester and the Chairman and Owner.
“Since then we have achieved a great deal together, scored goals, won games and trophies, and we are all very proud of that success.
“Having that kind of support is the best thing any manager can have. I have everything I could possibly want to do my job well and I am humbled by the confidence the Owner, Chairman, Ferran and Txiki have shown in me to continue for two more years after this season.
“Pep’s contract extension is the natural next step in a journey which has evolved over many years.
“It is a product of the mutual trust and respect that exists between him and the entire Club.
“It also goes to the stability and creativity at the heart of our football operations. Importantly it is a validation of the football structure and philosophy that has been built over more than a decade and to which he has contributed so much.
“I’m sure all City fans share my delight in this new agreement and in anticipating the exciting opportunities that, with continued hard work, are there to be taken.”