Txiki Begiristain will oversee Manchester City’s recruitment through the Club World Cup, facing several critical decisions in the process. Even if his successor, Hugo Viana, starts working with the club in some capacity from February, Begiristain will still be responsible for major calls, including the future of Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne, potential replacements, and handling Rodri’s long-term absence. There will be no gradual step-back for the sporting director before his contract ends.
Viana, however, will have plenty to tackle when he takes full charge. From mid-July 2025, he will be the one welcoming new signings, and the summer could be significant for the club. In recent years, City’s transfer activity has been relatively quiet. The 2024 window saw only Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan arrive, while the previous season’s £200 million spend was offset by over £500 million in sales over the last three years. City’s strategy has remained consistent: first-team players can leave if a suitable offer is made.
Guardiola prefers working with a smaller squad, but balancing that while maintaining a team capable of winning multiple trophies is a challenge. Following discussions with the board at the end of the 2024 window, there seems to be an understanding that a significant summer overhaul may be needed, regardless of who is managing the team.
“The transfer market is sometimes more active, sometimes less so,” Guardiola remarked. “I gave my opinion to the club, and together we agreed that in the future, we might need to do more.”
The midfield looks like an area that could need reinforcements, with De Bruyne, Gundogan, and Bernardo Silva all set to be over 30 by next season. If Guardiola leaves, a new manager might also seek more players as a foundation to build upon.
While Begiristain aims to leave the club in the best position for Viana’s takeover, from July 2025, it will be Viana’s reputation on the line, with City expected to back him significantly to make an immediate impact.
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