Supporters of Manchester City turned to social media in emotional fashion after reports emerged that manager Pep Guardiola could be preparing to leave the club he has transformed over the past decade.
The reaction was not directed at the manager himself at first, but at his daughter, Maria Guardiola, whose latest Instagram upload quickly became the unlikely gathering point for anxious fans desperate to convince Guardiola to remain at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola arrived in Manchester in 2016 and has since overseen one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
Under the Spaniard, City have dominated English football, collecting league titles, domestic trophies and the club’s first UEFA Champions League crown.
Yet speculation surrounding his future intensified after reports suggested his time in Manchester may soon be coming to an end.
Just hours before those reports began circulating widely, Maria Guardiola shared a short video on Instagram that appeared entirely unrelated to football.
Wearing a red top and fitted jeans, she captioned the post: “this tan sooonnnnnn,” alongside several emojis.
What followed was a wave of responses from City supporters who used the comments section to send heartfelt — and often humorous — messages aimed at persuading her father to stay.
One supporter wrote: “Tell your father to stay for one more season.”
Another added: “Please tell your Dad, @pepteam to stay for one more year!”
Others were more direct in their appeals. “Tell your dad to stay at Manchester City please,” one comment read, while another supporter posted: “C’mon…He can’t be leaving!”
A further message thanked both Maria and her father before making one final plea. “Hello miss, I just want to say thank you to you and your father, however could you please beg him on behalf of @mancity to stay at least one year?”
The flood of comments highlighted the scale of Guardiola’s influence at the club and the emotional connection supporters have developed with the manager during his time in English football.
Since taking charge, Guardiola has become synonymous with City’s modern era, reshaping the team with his possession-based style and helping establish them among Europe’s elite sides.
For many fans, the idea of a future without Guardiola on the touchline is difficult to imagine.
Maria Guardiola increasingly visible around Manchester City
While much of the attention surrounding the Guardiola family has naturally focused on Pep’s achievements in management, Maria Guardiola has increasingly become a familiar face to supporters during recent seasons.
She has regularly attended matches and attracted attention during several high-profile fixtures this campaign, including City’s Premier League meeting with Liverpool FC, where sections of supporters on social media claimed she had “stole the show” during the occasion.
Now based largely in the United Kingdom, Maria has built a significant online following through her modelling work and lifestyle content.
Her Instagram account has attracted more than 875,000 followers, with posts frequently documenting life between Manchester, London and her native Spain.
Despite the glamorous public image associated with her social media presence, Maria has previously spoken openly about the challenges that came with growing up in a football family constantly on the move because of her father’s career.
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In an interview with Vanity Fair, she reflected on the impact frequent relocations had on her childhood and personal development.
“Moving so frequently gave me a great deal of self-confidence, which I don’t think I could have gained in any other way at such a young age,” she said.
“I also fondly remember that sport was a big part of my childhood.”
Maria explained that travelling around the world to follow her father’s coaching journey ultimately strengthened the bond within the Guardiola family.
“Following my father around the world to watch matches created special memories and brought the family very close together,” she added.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the private side of one of football’s most recognisable families — a life shaped by constant change, football stadiums and global moves as Guardiola’s managerial career progressed from Spain to Germany and then England.
