Manchester City recently suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the Champions League, marking their third loss in a concerning four-game losing streak. Fans are growing uneasy, especially with the absence of Rodri due to injury, which has noticeably impacted the team.
In the clash against Sporting, it was Viktor Gyokeres who stole the spotlight, netting a hat-trick and leading the Portuguese champions to victory in Lisbon. However, another player also had an eye-catching performance — left wing-back Maxi Araujo, who scored Sporting’s fourth goal just after halftime.
Araujo didn’t just score; he effectively marked City’s Savinho, displaying aggression and physicality that disrupted the Brazilian’s game. After the match, Araujo revealed to *O Jogo* that he hopes to one day play under Pep Guardiola. In fact, he even approached Guardiola for a photo, saying, “Hopefully, hopefully… I asked him for a photo, we talked for a few minutes, and he congratulated me. We discussed the game a bit, and that was it.”
City have been linked to Gyokeres in recent weeks, with Sporting’s sporting director Hugo Viana reportedly open to discussions. However, Gyokeres himself hasn’t commented on a potential move. Guardiola also downplayed interest, reaffirming his confidence in Erling Haaland. But Araujo, new to Sporting after joining from Mexico’s Toluca this summer, has made no secret of his admiration for Guardiola.
While Araujo has had a solid start at Sporting with 12 appearances, two goals, and an assist, his average match ratings indicate room for growth. Given that City already have left-sided players like Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, and Rico Lewis, Araujo may not be a pressing transfer target. However, at 24 and with a versatile playing style that saw him excel as a winger at Toluca, he could be worth monitoring, especially given his clear interest in a future under Guardiola.
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