Pep Guardiola's wife wanted Man City coach 'to prioritise two jobs' prior to split
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has split from his wife Cristina Serra after 30 years together, according to reports from Spain.
The 53-year-old and Serra, who is the mother of his three children, are said to remain on good terms despite the separation.
The couple were spotted attending the theatre together during the Christmas period with one of their daughters, demonstrating their amicable relationship.
The split comes amidst a challenging 2024/25 season for Guardiola's City side.
Pep Guardiola's wife had wanted the Catalan coach to take a different job in the Premier League
PA
Prior to Guardiola's move to England in 2016, Serra had expressed a clear preference for London over Manchester.
Reports from 2015 indicated she was drawn to the prospect of living in one of the world's greatest cities, favouring either Chelsea or Arsenal as potential destinations.
The allure of west London's glamour or north London's trendy atmosphere particularly appealed to Serra.
At the time, Chelsea was still under Roman Abramovich's ownership, while Arsenal, managed by Arsene Wenger, had secured back-to-back FA Cup victories.
In 2019, Serra made the decision to return to their Barcelona home, as revealed by The Sunday Mirror.
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This led to a predominantly long-distance arrangement, with Serra splitting her time between Spain and the UK.
The couple maintained this arrangement for several years before their eventual separation.
Their living situation highlighted Serra's earlier reluctance to settle permanently in Manchester, despite Guardiola's growing success with City.
Pep Guardiola and Cristina Serra's relationship began in 1994
PA
Guardiola and Serra's relationship began in 1994, when he was still playing as a midfielder for Barcelona.
Despite their long relationship, the couple waited until 2014 to marry in an intimate ceremony.
Their separation stands in stark contrast to Guardiola's remarkable achievements at Manchester City, where he has claimed 18 trophies.
His success includes six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory as part of the historic Treble-winning campaign two years ago.
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Pep Guardiola has been in charge of City since 2016
Reuters
Despite Serra's London preferences, Manchester City had already laid the groundwork for securing Guardiola's services as early as 2012.
The manager's pre-existing relationships with City's key figures proved decisive in his eventual destination.
His close friendship with director of football Txiki Begiristain, his former Barcelona colleague, and City CEO Ferran Soriano facilitated swift negotiations.
By January 2016, all legal arrangements were finalised, cementing Guardiola's move to Manchester rather than the capital his wife had favoured.
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