Pep Guardiola ends speculation over Barcelona future with new contract

Pep Guardiola has ended speculation linking him with an imminent move away from the Camp Nou today by announcing that he will renew his contract at Barcelona. Guardiola had been linked to a move to England with reports that Manchester United were among the clubs interested in his services as they seek a successor to Alex Ferguson. There have also been suggestions that Arsenal were interested in the Catalan and Guardiola's agent, José María Orobit, claimed to have had contact with six clubs. But Guardiola, whose current contract expires at the end of the season, instead agreed to a one-year extension with Barcelona, which will be formally signed in the summer, when Barcelona's new president is voted in. Joan Laporta has reached the end of his term and elections will be held at the end of the season, or perhaps even before. Laporta's former vice-president, Sandro Rosell, with whom he dramatically fell out, is the current favourite. Guardiola's continuity is the one issue on which all candidates agree. Guardiola said: "I know that sooner or later I will cease to be coach of Barça and I have to enjoy the time I'm here to the maximum. A coach of Barça can't be here for life just because ... I think that you have sign for short periods in which the coach has to earn things, with the players, with the fans... "I wanted to see if that was happening, if I had the support of the players, the board. Nowhere am I going to be as comfortable as I am here."