Manchester City’s Transfer Market Strategy
Ferran Soriano, the chief executive of Manchester City, has acknowledged that the club has intensified its efforts in the player transfer market due to the lackluster performance experienced last season. This underwhelming display was partially attributed to a minimal recruitment approach during the previous summer transfer window.
After securing a historic four consecutive Premier League titles, City opted against making significant changes to their roster, leading to a disappointing run in the opening half of the last season. In response, they acted decisively in January, investing approximately £180 million (around $241.67 million) to bring in players such as Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis, and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Continued Investment and Strategic Vision
This summer, the club continued its recruitment strategy, spending over £100 million (approximately $134.26 million) on new signings, including Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli. Soriano expressed satisfaction with the transfer activity, highlighting a strategic vision that spans multiple years.
“We are very happy, I’m happy with the work that we did. This is part of multi-annual planning. Last summer we only bought one new player, but this year, between winter and summer, it will be eight new ones.”
He further emphasized the ongoing process of renewing the squad and acknowledged the natural progression of team evolution, referencing key players like Kevin De Bruyne, who has been with the club for a decade—a sign of both his exceptional quality and the club’s stability.
Moreover, Soriano indicated that further transfers, both incoming and outgoing, are still possible as they assess the future of players such as Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, and Kalvin Phillips within the squad.
“It’s part of the game. We look for stability. The fact that Pep is going to be with us for 10 years shows that we are a stable club. But the squad needs to be renewed; that’s something that happens naturally.”
Competitive Ambitions and Upcoming Matches
In competitive action, Manchester City began their Club World Cup journey with a 2-0 victory against Wydad AC from Morocco. As they prepare for a match against Al Ain in Atlanta, Soriano has made it clear that the team’s ambitions are set high, aiming not only for success in this tournament but in every competition they participate in.
“We are very excited by it. I think it’s something that was very much needed; soccer is a global sport, and we have to make it global. The ambition for City in any competition is to win it. Obviously, it’s not possible to win always, so we want to go as far as we can. But the ambition of Manchester City always is to win.”
