Sporting’s Ruben Amorim responds to Manchester City rumours of Pep Guardiola succession plans | OneFootball

One potential candidate to succeed Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager has commented on recent rumours linking him with the Etihad Stadium job.

Reports concerning the future of Pep Guardiola have intensified over the course of the last seven days, both concerning the possibility of him taking a high-profile position at international level, and a factor that could influence his departure timeframe,

Prior to the Football Association’s decision to intensify negotiations with Thomas Tuchel, and ultimately finalise contractual talks with the German, there had been a suggestion that Manchester City’s manager had received ‘informal contact’ from the national federation.

Additionally, Txiki Begiristain’s exit for the end of the ongoing season increased speculation as to whether that could have any bearing on Pep Guardiola’s decision, with the feeling from earlier in the summer being that both men could leave the Etihad Stadium at the same time.

And one man who has since been heightened as a potential candidate to replace Guardiola is Sporting’s Ruben Amorim, who has risen to the very top of Europe’s most highly-rated coaches via his work in Portuguese football alongside City’s next Director of Football, Hugo Viana.

Speaking during his first press conference post-international break, the subject of a potential switch to Premier League champions Manchester City was put to Ruben Amorim, as Pep Guardiola continues to weigh up his options.

“(Hugo) Viana will always be a great friend, but one day his professional trajectory will be different,” he responded with reference to Sporting’s Director of Football, who is set to take on the same role at Manchester City from the summer of 2025.

Amorim continued, “One thing does not lead to another. The main focus is that nothing has changed at Sporting. Viana will only leave at the end of the season. Until then, he is the sports director, there are no changes in this aspect.

“We didn’t talk about it (him moving also) at all. They are two completely different paths. People made that connection, but Hugo Viana’s path is Hugo Viana’s path, my path is my path.

“We have a professional relationship, it won’t last for always, what will remain is our friendly relationship, that’s for sure.”

In the meantime, Pep Guardiola has also had opportunity to comment on his own future, and the next steps for Manchester City, insisting that he is yet to make a call on what comes next and whether to extend his agreement beyond the end of the season.

Additionally, Guardiola told reporters on Friday afternoon that despite the England job now being occupied by Thomas Tuchel, he retains an intention to manage at international level at some stage in his football career.