The stage is set! All the right things are being said to appease the Manchester City fans but reading the undertones, between the lines, or whatever phrase you want to use, there is a definite idea that Pep doesn't plan on extending his stay at the English club.

This season in particular has been quite mediocre when put in the context of the quality of players the manager has available.

Pep can't genuinely come out and say he has not been backed considering he has made at least 31 signings since he arrived on top of a group of players that had won the league.

You could probably compare it to when Moyes arrived at Manchester United where he had a group of league winners but who are coming to the end of their careers, at the club at least.

The only difference being that Pep is actually a competent manager and Moyes was sub-par.

Why do I think Pep goes back to Barcelona.

"I will return to Barcelona sooner or later" Pep

Pep has never hidden his intentions to go back to Barcelona when asked and what an opportunity it would be next season.

Lionel Messi has recently been agitating for a change at the club in what has been on of the lowest points in his Barca career. The big money signings that arrived in recently times have been underwhelming.

Coutinho who arrived for 100 plus million Euros has since left the club on loan to Bayern and their young superstar signing, Ousmane Dembélé, has had a series of injuries and underwhelming performances that has seen his career disintegrate at the Catalan club.

To add to that the coaching situation has been equally dogged by mediocrity with Valverde losing his job earlier this season with Quique Setién taking over.

Quique Setién has not been the antidote Barcelona may have been hoping for with his recent failure being a shocking 1-0 loss to Athletic Bilbao. The football was quite turbid and boring to watch and I imagine a Pep regeneration is much needed.

The Barca executives are probably considering bringing Pep back and I would definitely put money on that.

Why Pep did not sign any players at City in January.

In the time Pep has been at Manchester City, he has never been shy to spend big to bring in reinforcements.

The fact that now in his most difficult season he did not even bother to bring anyone in even when they are still odds on for the Champions league probably tells you he has his head turned.

Why would the club buy players for Pep when he is likely not to be around next season to manage them. The next manager may not fancy them.

It is also the first time Pep has decried the empty seats at the Stadium admitting that Manchester City aren't that big of a club.

For a manager as ambitious as Pep, surely the Barcelona mantle is more of a prestigious target?

Final Thoughts

When asked about Messi's potential move away from Barcelona at the end of the season, Pep said, "He is a player from Barcelona and he will stay there, that’s my wish for him to stay there."

This doesn't say much about whether Pep is likely to move back to Barcelona but what it does show is the current turmoil over at Barca.

Messi is not going anywhere and anybody who thinks so is just kidding themselves. However, the potential of another Pep stint at Barcelona represents another period of dominance in La Liga at least for Messi in his final years in the top flight.

The Barcelona management might just flick that Pep emergency switch so they can keep their top prospect happy at the club.

Odds for Pep to Barcelona - 8/10

What do you think?

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