Gerard Pique, former Camp Nou player, affirms that Pep Guardiola is poised to reclaim the managerial role at Barcelona following his departure from Manchester City.

A former Spain international recently named Pep Guardiola and Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta as two worthy candidates to potentially manage Barcelona following Xavi’s departure from the club.

Xavi had announced in January that he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of the current season.

Gerard Pique, the former player, expressed his belief that Guardiola could return to Barcelona once his contract with Manchester City expires in 2025. Pique emphasized that Barcelona fans would love to see the legendary coach back at Camp Nou.

In an interview with The Times, Pique stated, “To manage Barça, you need to be a specific type of coach and understand the way Barça plays, so the options are limited.

The obvious choices are Guardiola, because of his history here and his current status as one of the best coaches, and Arteta. He would also be a good fit, having played for Barça in the past.”

When asked about the likelihood of Guardiola’s return to Barcelona, Pique replied, “You would have to ask him. I still speak to him sometimes. I am sure he and Barcelona people would love to see him back.”

During Guardiola’s tenure at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012, the club enjoyed unparalleled success, winning 14 trophies, including three La Liga titles and two Champions League titles.

The highlight was the treble-winning season in 2009/2010. In the 2022/23 season, Guardiola became the first manager to achieve the treble twice in his career when Manchester City secured the honor.

Under Guardiola’s guidance, Manchester City recently advanced to their seventh FA Cup semi-final out of the last eight seasons by defeating Newcastle United 2-0.

Their next Premier League fixture after the international break will be against Arsenal on March 31.

The speculation surrounding Guardiola’s potential return to Barcelona adds intrigue to the managerial landscape in European football.

As Barcelona prepares for Xavi’s departure, the prospect of Guardiola or Arteta taking the helm brings anticipation and excitement among fans and pundits alike.