Manchester City are set to see a big change take place behind the scenes at the club in the summer.
October saw a report emerge saying that Txiki Begiristain will leave City at the end of the season after spending 13 years as their sporting director.
It was then revealed that City had agreed to see Hugo Viana replace Begiristain in the summer and become the new director at the Etihad Stadium.
Following some more recent behind-the-scenes news concerning one of the Manchester club’s key figures, a pundit and former Premier League star has shared his thoughts on the matter and what it could mean for City’s new sporting director.
- Who is Hugo Viana? Get familiar with the favourite to replace Txiki Begiristain as Man City Director of Football
Ian Wright makes Hugo Viana and Pep Guardiola claim
Reacting to The Athletic’s recent report claiming Guardiola has agreed a one-year contract extension with the option of another year, Ian Wright said this during a recent episode of Stick To Football.
He said: “I think it’s brilliant for City. Do you think for January that means that they can attract the players now and the players will say I’m not going to go because he’s committed again.
“It feels good what he is doing for them. Hugo Viana is coming in, he’s getting a year with Pep, so Pep, to me, it feels like he is saying I am going to do this with you and stay here whatever happens.
“It feels right. In a moment where City feel like they are rough waters it kind of feels like he is steadying the ship.”
Viana will be pleased to see Guardiola extend his City contract
As things stand, Guardiola’s contract is set to expire in June. Although an official announcement of his reported extension would change that.
With Viana set to start his role as City’s sporting director in the summer, it will undoubtedly make it easier for him to settle into his new position by having Guardiola around given the experience he has of managing the team and knowing how the club needs to be ran.
In terms of what Viana may find himself focusing on over the summer, Pat Nevin pinpointed City’s ageing squad as something the club may need to address at the end of the season, saying this on the matter specifically.
He said: In top-flight football, teams have to make sure they don’t age too much together, because when the fall comes, it can be precipitous.
“Manchester City look threadbare, but they also have an ageing core group. I picked what I think is the best City 11 with all players being fit and available, and an average age of 29.5 years popped out.
“This may sound perfect, but the likes of Phil Foden and Erling Haaland pulled that average down considerably.”
Now that Wright has shared his thoughts on Guardiola and Viana, it will also please City supporters to hear him suggest that news of the Catalan’s contract extension could help the Blues get over the poor run of form they were on prior to the November international break.
