Pep Guardiola told close friends not to reveal that he’d split from his wife after 30 years together when the decision was made in December.
Guardiola, 53, has reportedly separated from Cristina Serra, who he shares three children with. Serra, a Brazilian journalist and writer, married the Manchester City boss back in 2014, although the couple have been living apart for more than five years.
Catalan-based outlet Sport were first to report the news of their split, explaining that the decision was made around a month ago. At the time, only members of their respective inner circles were aware of the decision.
Guardiola and Serra’s close friends and family members had been told to keep it quiet. The news has now gone public ahead of City’s clash with Brentford in the Premier League on Tuesday.
After meeting in 1994, the couple tied the knot during an intimate ceremony 11 years ago. Serra moved back to Barcelona in 2019 with one of their three daughters, Valentina, 17, to help oversee the fashion company owned by her family, all while Guardiola stayed in Manchester. They also have two other children: 24-year-old Maria and 22-year-old Marius.
Their most recent public appearance together as a couple came last July. Guardiola was accompanied by Serra as they attended Wimbledon at the All England Club.
She was in Istanbul in June to 2023 to celebrate her husband leading City to an historic Treble, lifting the Champions League after winning the FA Cup and Premier League title weeks before.
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Guardiola and Serra met while the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was modelling for designer Antonio Miro. They began a long-distance relationship when Guardiola was still a player. The couple moved to Germany when Guardiola became manager of Bayern in 2013.
The fashion company which Serra helps run stocks several brands which Guardiola is often seen wearing. Between City’s busy schedule, he travels back to Catalunya to see his wife and children.
Despite the separation, their relationship is described as being ‘totally cordial, stable and friendly’. Guardiola, who recently extended his contract with City until 2027, has showered his wife with praise when speaking about her publicly.
In January 2024, he hailed: “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.”
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