Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly nearing the official end of his marriage to wife Cristina Serra, with the divorce expected to be finalised “imminently.”
While the couple initially aimed for an amicable split, insiders say their relationship has cooled further, with “more urgency” now surrounding the finalisation process due to ongoing strain between them.
News of their marital difficulties first surfaced in January, coinciding with a downturn in form for City - who were the reigning Premier League champions at the time.
With the new season approaching, there are concerns the ongoing personal matters could become a distraction for City as they look to dethrone Liverpool as Premier League champions.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly nearing the official end of his marriage to wife Cristina Serra, with the divorce expected to be finalised “imminently"
|PA
Guardiola, 54, has already confirmed plans to leave Manchester City when his contract expires in 2027, saying he wants to “focus on myself.”
Sources close to the family say communication between Pep and Cristina has shifted from “friendly to cordial,” as complex legal and personal issues are addressed.
The divorce could be officially confirmed within the coming weeks, reports The Sun.
Spanish journalists Laura Fa and Lorena Vázquez, who initially revealed the separation, believe reconciliation is no longer a possibility.
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Fa stated: “The signing of this divorce is going to be imminent.
"Evidently their relationship sentimentally has come to an end.”
Vázquez added: “The relationship has ceased to be friendly and has become cordial.
"We’re not saying there’s tension between them but the break-up has moved on to another level.
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Pep Guardiola and Cristina Serra had been together for 30 years
| PA"There’s perhaps more urgency to set a date for the end of this relationship.”
The couple have been together for three decades and married in 2014.
Cristina, 52, who operates a fashion business, reportedly struggled to adjust to life in Manchester and moved back to Spain around five years ago.
The decision to separate was made in December, not long after Guardiola signed his latest contract extension with City.
Cristina is said to have told friends that the timing of the deal was the final straw, having hoped her other half would return to Spain.
Guardiola was seen in public still wearing his wedding ring when news of their separation emerged. In March, he spent three days at their £8.5million home in Barcelona.
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| ReutersBoth parties are reportedly working with the same legal representative to avoid a contentious court battle.
In June, they attended an Oasis concert at Heaton Park alongside their children, Maria, 24, and Marius, 22.
However, no photographs surfaced of the couple together. Their daughter Maria, a social media influencer, shared images from the event featuring only herself and her father, keeping her mother’s presence discreet.