Pep Guardiola seen still wearing his wedding ring as he looks stressed on first appearance since ‘split from wife’ emerged, at London hotel before tonight’s Man City match
Pep Guardiola has been spotted for the first time since reports emerged of his separation from wife Cristina Serra after 30 years together. The Manchester City manager was seen wearing his wedding ring as he arrived at a London hotel ahead of City’s Premier League match against Brentford on Tuesday night.
According to reports in Spain, the couple decided to end their marriage in December but kept the news private, sharing it only with their closest circle.
Friends have described the separation as “friendly and cordial,” with the pair spending Christmas together alongside their three children—Maria, 24, Marius, 22, and Valentina, 17.
Despite the split, Guardiola and Serra are said to maintain a strong bond, and Serra even attended City’s treble celebrations in Istanbul in June 2023.
Guardiola, 53, first met Serra in 1994 while modeling for designer Antonio Miró in Barcelona. The couple began a long-distance relationship before moving in together and later tying the knot in 2014. Serra moved back to Barcelona in 2019 to oversee her family’s fashion business, while Guardiola remained in Manchester, leading to a 860-mile separation.
Despite living apart, the couple often made efforts to be together, with Guardiola saying in May 2023, “When I have five days [off], yes, I can switch off from football. I went to Barcelona to see my wife, my little daughter. That helps me.”
The news of the separation comes amid a challenging season for Guardiola. City, who have dominated English football in recent years, are currently enduring a poor campaign by their standards.
Notably, the team sits sixth in the Premier League, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, and are at risk of failing to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. Guardiola has also been involved in a series of public outbursts, including spats with fans and players.
Observers have linked Guardiola’s personal struggles to his behavior on the touchline. During a Champions League match against Feyenoord, where City squandered a 3-0 lead, Guardiola was seen scratching his face in frustration, leaving visible red marks.
Reflecting on the incident, he later joked, “I wanted to hurt myself.” He also made concerning remarks about the loneliness of football management, admitting to feeling isolated despite his success.
In January 2024, Guardiola spoke glowingly about his wife’s influence on his life, particularly her fashion advice. “My wife is the best in the world at many things, especially fashion. She says normally to me, don’t wear this or wear that, so I follow. I’m smart enough to know when people are much better than me, follow their advice,” he said.
Despite the separation, Guardiola has continued to focus on his role at City. He ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year contract extension in November, keeping him at the Etihad until 2027.
His relationship with Serra, described by those close to him as a “childhood sweetheart” connection, appears to remain one of mutual respect and care even as they part ways.
Serra, a Brazilian journalist and writer, has long supported Guardiola throughout his career. The pair were last seen publicly together at Wimbledon in July 2023, a testament to their enduring bond despite their eventual decision to separate.
As City prepare to face Brentford, questions linger about whether Guardiola’s off-field challenges will continue to affect his leadership.
Nevertheless, his legacy as one of football’s greatest tacticians remains undisputed, and his determination to navigate this difficult period underscores the resilience he has displayed throughout his career.
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