Gary Neville reacts instantly to Pep Guardiola exit news, shares Man City conspiracy theory

Gary Neville has revealed his surprise at the timing of Pep Guardiola’s potential exit as Manchester City manager.

Reports emerged midway through Arsenal’s match against Burnley that the Spaniard could depart the Etihad Stadium come the end of the season.

The Daily Mail on 18 May has claimed that Guardiola will stand down as Man City’s manager after their final day clash against Aston Villa this coming Sunday.

This comes after 55-year-old won the FA Cup with the club last Sunday, where they beat Chelsea 1-0 in the final.

Guardiola could still complete a domestic treble this season, with Man City not yet out of the title race.

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Guardiola has been linked with a Man City exit for months. Yet throughout this time, nothing had been confirmed.

However, this news has perhaps broken at the worst time for the club, as they look to pip Arsenal to the title in the final week of the Premier League season.

Reacting to the news on Sky Sports on 18 May, Neville was shocked at the timing, and believed that neither Man City or Guardiola will have wanted this to have come to light.

He said: “I’m surprised that it’s broken right now. Not just because it’s during this match, but it’s the night before a Man City game. Something like that is game-changer news.

“I think of being in school and the news of Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool, or Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Man Utd and Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool recently.

“They’re just such huge moments in football, and I don’t see it’s news Man City would let get out or would want out.

“If it is true, Man City will be extremely disappointed that has broken now and so will Pep Guardiola.”

Football Insider has exclusively revealed that Vincent Kompany is favoured to replace Guardiola this summer as Man City manager.

The City legend is believed to be the hierarchy’s “top choice”, although Enzo Maresca remains a strong contender and more likely at this stage.

The Italian knows the club, having worked under Guardiola before embarking on his own managerial career, and is available after his sudden Chelsea departure in January.

Kompany has found plenty of success at Bayern Munich, where he led the German giants to another Bundesliga title this season.

A compensation package is likely to be worth around £10million if City decide that the Belgian is the right person to lead the club forward after Guardiola.

However, it remains to be seen who Mn City opt to appoint if Guardiola leaves, in what could be the biggest decision in the clubs’ history.

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