Manchester City have brought in four new players for the FIFA Club World Cup but could add more in the next few days
Manchester City's Rodri and Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrate during the win over Juventus
Manchester City's Rodri and Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrate during the win over Juventus
(Image: AP Photo/John Raoux)
Manchester City achieved what they wanted to in the extraordinary transfer window put in place for the Club World Cup. Wanting to treat the competition as a new start following a drop in standards last season, four new faces were brought in before Pep Guardiola named a 27-man squad for the summer tournament.
It did the job of instantly adding to competition for places in the side - something that had been lacking amid so many injury issues last year - while also sending a message to everyone that the loss of form was intended to be temporary. The performances of Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders at the Club World Cup has only added to City's optimism.
City look set up for the new season, and may not be finished in the transfer window. There is interest in a new right-back, with Kyle Walker not part of plans any more and no real specialists in that position.
Should they want to, the Blues can add a right-back or any other player to their squad in time for their last-16 match or, should they make it past Al Hilal, for their quarter-final. FIFA rules allow up to two extra signings to be added in a six-day window.
"During the period from 27 June to 3 July 2025, clubs may replace players whose contracts have naturally expired during the competition," the regulations state. "During that period, clubs may also add up to two new players, who will not count towards the maximum of 35 players on the final list.
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"The total number of players changed on, or added to, the final list together may not exceed six...The new and replacement players do not need to first have been included on the club’s provisional list of players."
One caveat for the additional signings is that players cannot represent two different teams in the Club World Cup. That would mean that Flamengo's Wesley, who has been of interest, would not be eligible to play for the Blues in their remaining fixtures.
Newcastle's Tino Livaramento, who has been higher up the shortlist, played 120 minutes in Slovakia on Saturday night as England Under-21s won the European Championship so is surely due a rest.
Whether those factors have contributed towards City being happy not to add to their Club World Cup squad remains to be seen, but Guardiola looks set to go into the Al Hilal game and any others with the same group of players that he started the tournament with.
Reijnders and Ait-Nouri impressed as City put in a statement performance to thrash Juventus 5-2 in their third and final group game, avoiding a last-16 clash with Real Madrid and strengthening their credentials as potential winners.
They have another two months to complete their business in the transfer market, with the final summer window shutting on September 1 - two weeks after the start of the Premier League.
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