Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly agreed to a new one-year contract extension, with an option for a further year until 2027.

The deal, expected to be announced in the coming days, would secure Guardiola’s tenure at the club beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of this season.

The 53-year-old Spaniard, who joined City in 2016, has already cemented his legacy at the club.

Under his leadership, City has secured 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and their first-ever Champions League triumph.

If finalized, the new deal would see Guardiola surpass a decade in charge, making him one of the longest-serving managers in the club’s history.

The announcement comes amidst a period of uncertainty and challenges for Manchester City.

Speculation about Guardiola’s future had intensified following the announcement that director of football Txiki Begiristain, a close associate of Guardiola, would leave at the end of the season.

On the pitch, the reigning champions are navigating a difficult stretch, having suffered four consecutive defeats in all competitions—the worst run of Guardiola’s managerial career.

Injuries and off-field issues, including 115 charges related to alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, have added to the turbulence.

Securing Guardiola’s extension is expected to provide stability during a critical period.

It would prevent potential disruption in the summer, especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon. Guardiola’s decision also comes at a pivotal juncture in City’s season as they aim to bounce back from recent setbacks.

Guardiola, who succeeded Manuel Pellegrini at City, has previously enjoyed successful stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Italian Serie A club Genoa FC has announced the appointment of former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira as its new head coach.

The club made this announcement in a statement published on its website on Wednesday, titled “Press Release – Vieira Appointed New Head Coach.”

The statement read, “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira has been appointed as the head coach of the first team. The new coach will oversee his first training session this afternoon, following the formalisation of his contract at the Villa Rostan Headquarters.”

Vieira, a former French defensive midfielder, was a key member of Arsenal’s historic ‘Invincibles’ squad that clinched the club’s third English Premier League title. He played alongside French teammates Thierry Henry and Robert Pires, among others. Vieira also lifted the FIFA World Cup in 1998 with France.

The statement continued, “With a professional journey that included a role as Executive Development Football at Manchester City’s Academy from 2011 to 2015, Vieira has also managed teams such as New York City, Nice, Crystal Palace, and Strasbourg. Welcome, coach!”

The announcement comes following Genoa’s dismissal of former head coach Alberto Gilardino, 42, after a disappointing start to the Serie A season.

“Genoa CFC announces that Alberto Gilardino has been relieved of his duties,” the club confirmed on Tuesday.

Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, took charge of Genoa in December 2022 after managing their Under-19 team. He led the club to direct promotion to Serie A in 2023 and achieved an 11th-place finish last season.

However, the club currently sits in 17th place in Serie A, just one point above the relegation zone, with only two wins in 12 matches.

Rafael Nadal said he has left both a sporting and personal legacy after retiring from professional tennis on Tuesday at the Davis Cup.

The 38-year-old was beaten in the opening singles rubber of the quarter-finals as Netherlands defeated Spain 2-1 to reach the final four.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, enjoyed a glittering and historic career over the past 23 years.

“I leave with the peace of mind that I have left a legacy, which I really feel is not just a sporting one but a personal one,” Nadal told fans in Malaga in a speech during a ceremony to honour his retirement.

“I understand that the love I have received, if it was just for what happened on the court, would not be the same.”

Nadal paid credit to many who have helped him along the way, including his uncle Toni Nadal, who coached him as a child and for a large part of his career.

“The titles, the numbers are there, so people probably know that, but the way that I would like to be remembered more is like a good person, from a small village in Mallorca,” continued Nadal.

“I had the luck that I had my uncle that was a tennis coach in my village when I was a very, very small kid, and a great family that supports me in every moment…

“I just want to be remembered as a good person, a kid that followed their dreams and achieved (even) more than what I had dreamed.”

Nadal was celebrated with a video montage on the many screens around the Martin Carpena arena in Malaga where over 10,000 fans saw his career come to a close.

Former rival Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Serena Williams and other tennis greats left messages in the video, alongside former Spanish football stars including Raul and Andres Iniesta, who retired from playing in October.

“I leave the world of professional tennis having encountered many good friends along the way,” said Nadal in his emotional speech.

The Spaniard said he hoped to be a “good ambassador” for tennis in the years to come and was not afraid to begin his retirement.

“I am calm because I have received an education to take on what is coming next,” he explained.

“I have a great family around me who help me with everything that I need every day.”