Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra have held crisis talks with a view of giving each other a second chance, it has been claimed. The couple, who had been together for 30 years and got married in 2014, split up in January and began divorce proceedings the following month.
Cristina said “everything’s fine” when approached by reporters in January, but didn’t answer when asked if the split was to do with Guardiola’s decision to stay in Manchester. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss, who took over at City in 2016, signed a fresh contract extension in the autumn.
The pair spent three days together at their Barcelona home in March, prompting speculation they could reconcile. It was their first reunion since Christmas, with Spanish media describing it as a “bridging of the divide”.
Pep and Cristina, who had engaged the same lawyer for their divorce proceedings, have three children together. And now, according to El Nacional, they are ready to give each other another chance.
Citing Spanish paparazzi, the Catalan publication reports that both still wear their wedding rings. The same outlet says Guardiola is prepared to use a private jet provided to him by City to fly out once a week to meet Cristina at the Barcelona home they bought together in 2021.
Guardiola signed his new deal during a difficult time on the pitch for his City team. The reigning Premier League champions were in the midst of a four-game losing streak which essentially ended their chances of retaining the title, and they threw away a 3-0 lead against Feyenoord in the Champions League just a few days later.
City have recovered in the league in recent weeks to give themselves a good chance of qualifying for newxt season’s Champions League. However, they couldn’t get beyond the knockout play-off round in this season’s edition.
Matheus Nunes’ late winner against Aston Villa in midweek means City will be in the Champions League spots whatever happens this weekend. They can also book their place in the FA Cup final with a victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday.
“Of course it’s important, you don’t have to be a scientist to realise we played against Aston Villa one of the best teams,” Guardiola said after the Tuesday night victory. “You saw the games against Newcastle and PSG. In top form, the quality, the manager and everything. It’s extraordinary.
“We performed like we were in the past with commitment. We conceded not much. We didn’t create much either. But the back-four again has been amazing, all the players. So in terms of qualification for the Champions League of course it’s important.
“But at the same you have to be calm, focus on the semi-final and then prepare for four finals. Two at home and two away, game by game.”
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