Man City fans tell Pep Guardiola 'we want you to stay' as they unveil HUGE banner during clash against Fulham... with Spaniard's current deal set to expire next summer

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Manchester City fans unfurled a massive banner at the Etihad that told manager Pep Guardiola they wanted him to stay.

The message read 'We want you to stay' in Catalan, and was book-ended with two flags in the northeastern part of Spain's regional colours.

Fans hanged the banner amid continued speculation about the future of manager Guardiola, whose contract with the Manchester club finishes at the end of the season. 

Guardiola had previously expressed his gratitude to fans for the sentiment, saying he would cover the cost of the banner.

The 1894 Group raised over £1,000 in less than 24 hours to display the banner at home to Fulham on Saturday afternoon. 

City fans unveiled a banner for Pep Guardiola that read 'We want you to stay' in Catalan

Man City boss Pep Guardiola says he will pay for a banner from fans asking him to stay

The Spaniard had previously said he was willing to cover the banner's cost, which read 'Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay' in Catalan.

There remains much uncertainty regarding Guardiola's future at the club, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, with the Catalan coach regularly preferring to pen only shorter term deals.

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When asked whether he will remain at the club, though, Guardiola remained coy and simply replied: 'Let's see'. 

As reported by BBC Sport, Guardiola said: 'They have to bring me the bill, I have to pay for the banner.

'What can I say? Thank you so much, I fell in love since the first day I arrived here, let's see.'  

Guardiola has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell in charge of City, which included winning the treble in the 2022-23 campaign and turning the side into arguably the most dominant in Premier League history. 

In total, Guardiola has won six Premier League titles as City manager as well as two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League all since arriving just eight years ago.

Guardiola has guided City to much silverware since being appointed as manager in 2016

Guardiola was appointed as City manager in 2016, having previously had spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, where he had similar levels of domestic dominance. 

City got back to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, after beating Fulham 3-2.