Hugo Viana has made an impressive start in his role as Director of Football at Manchester City.
It looked a tough task to replace Txiki Begiristain after the Spaniard served Manchester City admirably for 13 years, bringing Pep Guardiola to the Etihad Stadium as well as legends such as Sergio Aguero.
However, the man from Barcelos has done well, spending around £108m to sign three quality footballers in Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Hugo Viana is now looking for a new right-back after Kyle Walker joined Burnley, but the Portuguese negotiator may well be barking up the wrong tree based on what Thierry Henry said in May 2023.
Thierry Henry has already told Manchester City why Denzel Dumfries might not be a good fit
Football Transfers now state that Manchester City are in discussions with Inter Milan over a deal for Denzel Dumfries – who has a €25m (£22m) release clause in his contract until July 15th.
The Netherlands international is an incredibly effective attacking outlet down the right flank, scoring 22 goals and assisting a further 26 in 179 outings for Inter Milan.
Outrageous skill by Denzel Dumfries 🥵#UCL pic.twitter.com/imVF2wbCvo
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 1, 2024
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However, Dumfries operates as a wing-back for the Italian giants in a 3-5-2 formation, whereas Guardiola tends to deploy a more traditional right-back in a 4-3-2-1 formation as he did last time out against Al Hilal.
Henry has already shared why this approach might not get the best out of the 29-year-old, if a move to the Etihad Stadium does materialise, suggesting that Dumfries plays best when not involved in a possession-based system.
After Inter Milan put one foot in the 2023 UEFA Champions League final with a 2-0 first leg win over AC Milan, the Frenchman told CBS Sports (via HITC): “Their wing-backs are always high and wide to try to use the width of the field, and they do that against any team.
“It’s not like a Man City way of possessing the ball, we all know that, but when they go and put pressure, the wing-backs are really high in putting pressure.”
Scores a brace against Barca ✅
Roasts @MicahRichards ✅
Denzel Dumfries had a night 🥵 pic.twitter.com/jynq6h1Ru0
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 30, 2025
Dumfries can operate as a more traditional right-back, but putting the Dutchman in that position would stifle his immense attacking abilities as opposed to deploying him as a wing-back.
Denzel Dumfries deal could point to a potential tactical change
Guardiola is no stranger to springing a tactical surprise on opponents, memorably implementing the inverted full-back method, which the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea later copied.
Denzel Dumfries against Barcelona across both legs:
⚽️⚽️🅰️ vs. Barcelona (A)
🅰️🅰️ vs Barcelona (H)
Lethal. pic.twitter.com/UH6TgcP3jw
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 6, 2025
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However, a move for Dumfries, having already signed a very attacking left-sided full-back in Ait-Nouri, could suggest the opposite tactic is now about to be coached into Manchester City, putting a focus on the full-backs stretching the pitch rather than coming infield.