‘Many years’ - Pep Guardiola makes Manchester United & Arsenal transfer spending dig
Manchester City have posted huge profits in the market this summer.
Pep Guardiola has taken a swipe at the spending of Manchester City’s Premier League rivals in the transfer market.
The Blues posted record revenues of £712.8m in last year’s financial figures and have made massive profits this summer in the window.
City have sold the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Sergio Gomez and Tommy Doyle this summer and also earned funds from the transfers of former players Arijanet Muric and Douglas Luiz. With Julian Alvarez’s imminent departure, that will bring City’s summer profit up to around £100m.
Savinho has been the club’s only signing this year, although Pep Guardiola revealed on Friday that the Premier League champions could make additions in the final weeks of the window.
Meanwhile, clubs like Manchester United have spent big on Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, and Arsenal have shelled out around £42m on Riccardo Calafiori. Speaking in his pre-Community Shield press conference, Guardiola was asked whether he is concerned about his rivals strengthening in a window where City have allowed a key man to leave.
“Yes, many years they have done it. Many years but it's not news. It's just when City spend money,” he responded.
Alvarez’s exit will bring City’s transfer income to over £500m over the last three years thanks in part to high-profile departures such as Cole Palmer, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus.
In fact, City sit ninth in the Premier League for net spend over the last five years behind sides like Aston Villa, Newcastle United and West Ham United. City’s £229m loss in that period compares favourably against Chelsea’s near £800m loss and over £500m from United.