PEP THE £60M MAN

City make him highest-paid manager in the world.. no wonder he’s ‘happy & excited’

PEP GUARDIOLA declared he was “happy and excited” after signing a new three-year deal worth around £60million. Guardiola (right), who led Manchester City to the Premier League title with a record-breaking total of 100 points, has committed himself to the club until 2021.

And the City boss, on £15m a year under his original contract, has seen

that figure soar by £5m a season, making him the highest-paid manager in the world.

The Catalan, 47, had a year left on his original deal, but has committed himself to City for a further two – making it the longest stint of his glittering coaching career.

The City hierarchy had been talking with Guardiola and his representatives for several months, but the deal was only finalised in the last 48 hours before he went on holiday.

“I’m so happy and excited.

It’s a pleasure to be able to work here,” he said.

“I enjoy working with our players every day and we will try to do our best together in the coming years. As a manager, you have to feel good to be with the players – and I feel good.

“I will focus on the desire of my players to become a better team and every day that’s what I will try to do. We have a young squad with an average age of 23 and we want to keep taking steps forward and maintain the levels we’ve achieved this season.”

Despite this contentment, Guardiola warned City he will walk away the moment he feels he has lost the special bond he has built with his players.

He added: “The club know me and when I get the feeling our relationship with the players is not good, I’m going to make a step back and another guy is going to come in to help the team, the club, to maintain this high level we have achieved.

“The contract of the manager always depends on results. We’ve extended our contract by two years, so still three years, but we’re dependent on results.”