Reports from Spain say Pep Guardiola and his wife Serra Cristina have ended their relationship.(Photo: Getty)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra have ended their 30-year relationship.
The couple, who married back in 2014, have three children together, are understood to be on amicable terms, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
Serra moved back to Barcelona five years ago with daughter Valentina, while Guardiola remained in Manchester.
Despite living in separate cities, the couple were able to maintain their marriage up until December when it is said the decision to part ways was made.
Serra, 52, opted to leave Manchester back in 2019 to play a role in helping to run the fashion company owned by her family, Serra Claret.
The couple were able to maintain a long-distance relationship, as they had done shortly after they began dating back in 1994 when Pep was still playing for Barcelona.
It had been anticipated that Guardiola would leave City after nine trophy-laden years in the summer but the 53-year-old ended speculation surrounding his future by signing a new two-year contract extension back in November.
Cristina Serra was in Turkey to help celebrate Pep Guardiola masterminding Manchester City’s first ever Champions League triumph (Picture: Getty)
Despite clarifying his intention to remain with the English champions, Guardiola has endured a torrid few months.
City’s form deteriorated at the back end of last year to such an extent that hopes of winning a fifth successive Premier League title have virtually evaoprated.
City have looked more like themselves in recent weeks, stringing together three successive wins, but a run of just one victory in 13 matches in all competitions between late October and Boxing Day took its toll on their beleaguered manager.
Indeed, Guardiola issued a statement in November after he sparked concern over his mental wellbeing following a 3-3 draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
Having thrown away a three-goal lead and conceding an injury-time equaliser, the former Bayern Munich boss appeared in his post match interview sporting a cut on his nose, while several scratch marks were visible on the top of his head.
‘With my finger, yeah, with my nail,’ Guardiola said during his press conference before mimicking the scrape along his nose which caused the wound.
Guardiola then added with a smile: ‘I want to harm myself, yeah.’
After receiving criticism for his comments, Guardiola apologised for‘making light of the very serious issues of self harm’.
‘I was caught off guard with a question at the end of a press conference last night about a scratch which had appeared on my face and explained that a sharp fingernail had accidentally caused this,’ he said.
Over the weekend, meanwhile, Guardiola was filmed having an awkward altercation with a group of autograph hunters who were told in no uncertain terms to ‘go back to school’.
‘Don’t come again, I won’t tell you again, I know your faces.
‘Do you want to live your life doing this honestly,’ he added. A despondent individual could be heard quietly replying ‘No, I used to be a chef’ while the six-time Premier League winning manager continued his rant.
Guardiola continued: ‘Let’s continue to do it. Prepare better. F***ing hell man, this isn’t for all the people this is for you.
‘What are your dreams? Tell me, what is it? Where do you dream my friend? Practice, f***ing hell, practice.’
Source: Metro.co.uk

