Manchester City confirm Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini as boss

City have announced the appointment of the much-coveted outgoing Bayern Munich boss as head coach from next season with Manuel Pellegrini standing down.

City have also revealed they first tried to bring in the 45-year-old two-time Champions League winner in 2012, a situation Pellegrini was fully aware of when he took over the following year.

It seems Pellegrini was kept up to date with the club’s negotiations with Guardiola, which began weeks ago. The club would also not have made the change had former Barcelona boss Guardiola declined their offer.

City believe their man has resisted overtures from rival clubs to join them but Manchester United - with whom Guardiola was also linked - have insisted they were not one of his potential suitors.

Pellegrini will now not take up the one-year extension he agreed to his original three-year contract last summer.