PEP GUARDIOLA could make a shock return to Bayern Munich because he “does not like living in Manchester”.
Respected German national newspaper Bild has revealed that the Manchester City chief kept his flat in Munich – and would like to return to Bavaria.
Guardiola quit as Munich boss in 2016 to take charge at the Etihad.
In his three years in Manchester he has failed to win the Champions League, something he was unable to achieve at Bayern as well.
But he has won the Premier League title in the last two seasons, despite finishing trophyless in his first campaign in England.
The Spaniard, 48, signed a two-year extension to his City deal in 2018, said to be worth 19.5million-a-year and taking him up until 2021.
Bayern sacked their coach Niko Jovac a fortnight ago and could now make a sensational bid to bring Guardiola back to the city, says SportBild.
Munich are ready to keep caretaker boss Hansi Flick in charge this season and appoint Guardiola in the summer.
The Bavarians have already turned down advances from former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger to be their next manager.
Guardiola first joined Munich in 2013 after a sabbatical following his all-conquering four-year spell in charge at Barcelona.
He kept his flat in the city when he moved to England.
Bayern remain convinced he is unhappy in Manchester and say his family have moved back to Catalonia.
Guardiola has always preferred life in a big city – and demanded huge living quarters when he was negotiating his deal to join City in 2016.
In Munich he had a spacious mansion on Sophienstrasse.
But Etihad chiefs could not find a big enough property in Manchester city centre to suit his needs.
The Guardiolas eventually moved to a luxurious apartment in the Deansgate City Suites in the centre of Manchester.
But it is clear he preferred living in Munich.
When he quit Bayern in 2013 he vowed: “I will come back here, to Germany – maybe as a coach.”
Club president Uli Hoeness has said the club are looking at a “long-term solution” to their managerial vacancy, having struggled in the Champions League since Guardiola left.
And after rivals Liverpool took a decisive advantage in the title race with their 3-1 win at Anfield last Sunday, Guardiola could be poised to make this his last season with only another year left on his Etihad deal.
