Guardiola 'to leave' Barca

Barcelona have called a press conference for this lunchtime at which Pep Guardiola is expected to announce he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Guardiola spoke to the players before training on Friday morning with reports in Catalonia suggesting he has decided not to renew his contract which expires in the summer and will quit the Nou Camp after four hugely successful years as coach. He is set to announce his decision alongside Barca president Sandro Rosell and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta.

Guardiola is thought to have met with Rosell, vice-president for sport Josep Maria Bartomeu and Zubizarreta on Wednesday - the day after Barca were eliminated from the Champions League by Chelsea - and indicated his desire to leave. At the club's request he promised to give it further thought but emerged with the same decision.

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