A summer of transition is on the cards at Manchester City, with Txiki Begiristain set to leave the Etihad Stadium.
Back in October, Manchester City confirmed that Begiristain would be leaving the club at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Sporting CP’s Hugo Viana is set to take the reins at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the new campaign.
However, a report from Spain has claimed that Begiristain has made a big decision in terms of the timescale.
Photo by Kristian Skeie - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
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Txiki Begiristain set to continue at Manchester City until end of summer transfer window
Begiristain was set to leave City at the end of the Club World Cup in July, as stated by the club, but the roadmap has now changed.
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Hugo Cerezo has reported that Begiristain has decided to extend his stay at City by a month and a half, until the end of the summer transfer window.
Viana is still set to join City at the start of the summer as planned, and he will work alongside Begiristain to facilitate the transition process.
As per Cerezo’s report, Begiristain has in the role for too long to just leave mid-window at a crucial time at the club, so the timescale has changed.
Why Hugo Viana is the ‘perfect choice’ to succeed Txiki Begiristain at Manchester City
It’s great to hear that Begiristain and Viana will work together over the summer to ensure continuity at the club and a smooth transition.
With City having had such a tumultuous season, it’s important to keep things ticking over and avoid any more unnecessary issues.
And while it’ll be a shame to see Begiristain leave, City look set to be in good hands with Viana.
“You have to realise Hugo went to Sporting with almost no experience as a sports director when it needed a total reconstruction,” former Sporting boss Jorge Manuel Rebelo Fernandes told The Sun in March.
“There was an internal rebellion, fans were violent and key men like William Carvalho, Rafael Leao and Rui Patricio – the backbone of the team – left, many for free.
“But Hugo was always so calm, never got angry and the results in his tenure spoke for themselves. There is no doubt he was the cornerstone of the resurgence.
“Sporting was an intensive course for him where he learnt to solve problems in a high-pressure environment.”
With City needing to rebuild their team, Viana is the right man for the job, having needed to do so at Sporting.
Fernandes added: “Hugo brought in the likes of Pedro Porro, Joao Palhinha and Morten Hjulmand, and made millions from selling Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Matheus Nunes and others.
“I am not surprised City didn’t hesitate to sign him. In Pep, they have the best coach in the world and I’m sure the two of them will work well together.
“They made the perfect choice.”