Pep Guardiola denies Manchester City contract break clause amid fresh exit reports

Speculation over Guardiola's future mounting amid flagging title defence

Pep Guardiola has insisted he plans to stay at Manchester City beyond the end of this season despite reports of a break clause in his contract.

Speculation surrounding Guardiola’s future has mounted over the past few months amid City’s floundering Premier League title defence.

The champions find themselves 14 points behind leaders Liverpool and reports on Friday suggested Guardiola’s contract contains a clause which would allow him to leave.

Guardiola has always insisted that he has no intention of leaving City and will, at the very least, see out his existing contract which expires in 2021.

“No, it’s not true,” he insisted on Friday, when asked about the break clause. ”I spoke about that a few weeks ago about my intentions for the club.”

Speaking last month, Guardiola was insistent that he would not leave. “I want to stay, I don’t have any reasons to move,” he said.

“I am incredibly satisfied to work with this club, with these players, and if the people think I am going to resign for these results and being nine points behind [Liverpool], the people do not know me.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola confirmed that John Stones and Sergio Aguero would both miss Sunday's trip to the Emirates through injury.

Aguero continues his spell on the sidelines with a thigh problem after missing City's last five games while Stones missed Wednesday's Champions League win in Zagreb with a similar issue.