Pep Guardiola has denied suggestions that Manchester City’s significant spending in January was motivated by the possibility of a transfer ban due to the club’s alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations.
City invested approximately £170 million ($211 million) on new signings, including Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Nico Gonzalez, ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline. These reinforcements come as Manchester City, currently struggling in the Premier League and having barely qualified for the Champions League play-offs, look to strengthen their squad.
Guardiola Discusses Potential Sanctions
Guardiola was asked if the club’s hefty outlay was made in anticipation of a transfer embargo, one of the potential sanctions the club could face if found guilty of breaching financial rules. The Premier League is investigating 115 alleged breaches, with a verdict expected in the coming weeks. Other possible sanctions include fines, points deductions, or even demotion. The city has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Guardiola shared his expectations regarding the upcoming verdict, expressing confidence in his club’s integrity. He also addressed criticisms regarding City’s spending, attributing them to misconceptions about the club’s wealth.
City’s Spending Compared to Rivals
The manager pointed out that despite the recent spending, City’s net expenditure over the last five years has still been lower than that of many of their Premier League rivals.
“In the last five years, we are the last team in the top six for net spend,” Guardiola stated. “Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham, and even Liverpool.”
Guardiola also attributed City’s relative net spending to the number of players they’ve sold in recent seasons.
Looking Ahead
While he expressed frustration with ongoing perceptions about the club’s finances, Guardiola concluded by stating that the final decision on the investigation will reveal more.
“Respect the other ones, but in one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far,” he said. “At the end, every club can do whatever they want.”
