Manchester City could face a period of transition as the hearing into their alleged financial breaches continues, while key figures consider their futures.
Manchester City could be set for a nightmare year which could completely erode their domination of English football. While City have claimed a victory of sorts over the Premier League after challenging its associated party transaction (APT) rules, the 115 charges for alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules (PSR) are still hanging over the club.
Should City, who deny all the charges against them, be found guilty, the punishment could be incredibly severe, potentially altering the landscape of English football.
Meanwhile, there are question marks over the futures of key members of staff and players, including head coach Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland, with the looming departure of director of football Txiki Begiristain already being confirmed. Here’s how a nightmare 12 months for the Premier League champions could shake out…
Begiristain on his way
Begiristain, who oversees City’s transfer dealings, will leave the club at the end of the season, potentially throwing the club’s recruitment strategy up in the air. It was Begiristain who lured compatriot Guardiola to City. Guardiola once said: “If Txiki worked for Chelsea, I would probably have called Chelsea.
When nobody else would take a risk on me, when maybe three per cent of the people at Barca believed in me, he was the one who insisted on my appointment to the first team. None of this would have been possible without him.”
While the club already has someone in mind, Begiristain will be a hard act to follow.
Guardiola resigns
The impending departure of Begiristain raises further questions about the future of Guardiola, who has spent more time at City than his spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich combined.
It would be natural for him to be pondering a fresh challenge. But the departure of a close confidant in Begiristain, plus a negative outcome to the hearing into alleged financial breaches, could hasten his exit. He could even quit at the end of this season having vowed to weigh up his future during the campaign.
Haaland sold
His dad, Alf-Inge, may not be flavour of the month at the Bernabeu after his spat with fans last year, but Erling continues to be linked with Real Madrid.
Question marks over Guardiola’s future and, again, the potential ramifications of the PSR case, could unsettle the Norwegian and lead to him leaving the club.
115 charges decision
The outcome of the case could hold the key to everything. Found innocent and the club will continue on its merry way, aside from the odd departure.
But the worst-case scenario doesn’t bear thinking about for City fans. A deduction of up to 100 points has been suggested while being kicked out of the Premier League and European competition is also possible.
The latter would devastate the club and lead to their plethora of stars – presumably not keen on midway trips to EFL outposts – likely to head for the exit door. And it’s impossible to imagine Guardiola managing in the Championship or lower, as fascinating as that would be.
Rodri’s City career over
City’s hopes of retaining the title have been rocked by the long-term injury to key man Rodri. With the Spanish midfielder set to miss the rest of the season, it’s conceivable he has played his last game for the club.
The 28-year-old is contracted with City until 2027. Again, he could move on in the wake of a negative outcome to the 115 charges case or may just want a change of scenery after five years at the Etihad.
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