It seems misfortunes continue to follow Spanish coach Pep Guardiola. Just as his team, Manchester City, managed to regain their winning form with three consecutive victories across different competitions for the first time this season, media reports surfaced about his separation from his wife, Cristina Serra. Pep and Cristina have been together for 30 years and share three children: Maria (24), Marius (22), and Valentina (17).
According to exclusive news reported by the Spanish newspaper Periódico on Monday, the couple decided to end their relationship last December. However, they asked their family and close friends not to share this news with the media.
The report highlighted that the separation was amicable. Despite their decision to part ways, they celebrated Christmas together and were even seen at a Barcelona theater with one of their daughters.
Pep Guardiola splits from wife
Guardiola and Cristina Serra began their relationship in 1994 during Pep’s time as a Barcelona player. They had a civil marriage in Matadebra in 2014 while Pep was coaching Bayern Munich.
In 2019, Serra returned to Barcelona to focus on managing her fashion company directly after years of running it remotely. Since then, the couple lived separately, with Pep staying in Manchester to lead the Citizens while Cristina split her time between Spain and the UK. Despite living apart, they continued to appear together on certain occasions.
Media outlets have speculated whether Guardiola’s recent personal struggles, including the separation, may have affected his mood. This could possibly explain some unusual behavior, such as when he cut his nose and head after a match loss.
Reports also suggest the news being leaked to the public could further disrupt Guardiola’s focus during a critical period. Manchester City is preparing for a demanding schedule, with four matches in the next ten days. Three of those will be away games against Brentford and Ipswich Town in the Premier League, followed by Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in the Champions League. The team will then host Chelsea on January 25.
