According to reports, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra are attempting to reconcile after spending time together in Barcelona over the Easter holiday.
The couple, who had been together for 30 years, announced their surprising separation in January, with divorce procedures reportedly starting in February.
However, after a three-day visit to Barcelona during the Easter break, sources quoted by Catalan newspaper El Nacional suggest the couple is “giving each other another chance,” indicating “all is not lost in their marriage.”
Their relationship reportedly began to drift in 2019 when Cristina, a fashion entrepreneur, returned to Barcelona to concentrate on her business ventures.
The decision by Pep last November to extend his contract with Manchester City until 2027 is said to have hastened their separation.
A source told El Nacional that the manager has now promised to travel to Barcelona weekly when his schedule allows.
Spanish journalist Maria Lapiedra suggested this commitment was made to avoid prolonged periods without seeing each other.
The report also mentioned that the couple, parents to three children, are reportedly still wearing their wedding rings.
Efforts to salvage the marriage reportedly began last month with reports of Pep making a discreet visit to their family home in Barcelona.
The 54-year-old is said to have taken a private jet from Manchester just hours after his team`s 3-1 victory against Plymouth in the FA Cup.
A source stated: “They spent three nights together in Barcelona, both staying at the family home.
“Pep went out on Monday to the dentist and Cristina went to her fashion shop in the city centre.
“They met up again at the shop and spent three hours there before returning to the house to spend the evening together.
“Pep left for Manchester on Tuesday morning.”
Pep and Cristina first met in 1994 but did not marry until 2014, holding a private ceremony near Barcelona.
For much of their marriage, they lived apart after Cristina, along with one of their daughters, Valentina, chose to return to Barcelona.
Their two other children, Maria and Marius, stayed in the UK with Pep.
The couple maintained a long-distance relationship until their separation last December.
However, they reportedly emphasized their desire for an amicable divorce process, even planning to share the same legal team.
Sources indicated in February that they had already reached an initial agreement on a multi-million pound settlement, expected to be finalized within weeks.
According to well-known Spanish journalist Lorena Vazquez, who first reported the split: “They want it above all to be friendly for the sake of their children.
“As you can imagine money is not going to be an issue and they have already agreed the initial terms to make sure this separation is the most cordial possible.
“They have a very good relationship, so much so that the same lawyer is arranging the whole thing.
“The divorce is on the way and is being left in the hands of people with their absolute trust.”
Manchester City representatives declined to provide a comment.
