‘On a par with Real Madrid’ - Sporting president makes big Man City claim following Hugo Viana announcement

Hugo Viana will join ‘one of the most powerful clubs in the world’ when he becomes Manchester City’s new sporting director.

That, at least, is the opinion of Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas, who said he sees it as a huge compliment that City earmarked their top man when searching for Txiki Begiristain’s replacement. The 60-year-old is set to depart City at the end of the year, bringing his 13-year affinity with the club to an end.

Since joining City in 2012, Begiristain has helped establish the club among Europe’s preeminent sides, both on and off the pitch. In choosing his successor, the outgoing Spaniard wanted to select someone he felt was capable of continuing his legacy in the post-Pep Guardiola era.

Viana’s appointment was confirmed nine days ago, with the ex-Newcastle United midfielder set to start his role later this season. While Varandas is obviously disappointed to lose his sporting director, there’s also a sense of pride.

“Hugo Viana is the talk of the town. Hugo Viana, obviously, and here from a personal point of view, deserves everything,” the club president told Portuguese outlet Record. “Not only from a professional point of view, from a human point of view. He’s going to, probably on a par with Real Madrid.

“He’s going to one of the most powerful clubs in the world. Something that has never happened in Portugal, a Portuguese manager going to the highest of the highs. That’s to his credit, but it’s also very much to the credit of how Sporting is seen abroad today. 

“Here in Portugal we often focus too much on the drama, on that soap opera, but abroad, the organised clubs, the winning clubs, look and see a club that has reinvented itself, they see a club that makes a financial profit and they see a club that wins titles and that values ​​its assets. 

“So, obviously, this is the level of excellence at which Sporting is seen abroad. And for us, Sporting, it is very important that Hugo Viana is successful at Manchester City. Very important because that is what we want, to be seen abroad in this way.”