In terms of assessing a player’s talent, there have not been many better managers at this very skill than Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola has been responsible for both unearthing and elevating several players he has come across in his career.
For instance, the £378,846-a-week manager promoted the likes of Sergio Busquets and Phil Foden to the Barcelona and Manchester City senior teams respectively; decisions that aged like fine wine.
But Pep Guardiola also profiles players’ attributes brilliantly, as he converted Fabian Delph into an inverted left-back during City’s ‘Centurions’ season where he was a key cog in arguably the best team in Premier League history.
Similarly, the way in which Guardiola has helped turn Rodri into arguably the best midfielder in the world speaks volumes of how terrific a coach he is.
Considering the Spanish international lacked his predecessor Fernandinho’s athleticism, it seemed like an impossible job for the Manchester City boss to develop him into his long-term answer at the base of midfield.
But Rodri is now possibly the first name on the team sheet for both club and country.
The Catalan’s eye for talent, regardless of the player’s age is unquestionable.
Keown spots big Guardiola mistake at Manchester City
However, Pep Guardiola is only human and like any manager, he is capable of making mistakes.
Cole Palmer’s rise at Chelsea seems to have meant several fans and pundits alike have pointed fingers at Guardiola.
Gary Neville suggested Pep Guardiola made a mistake by not ensuring the Englishman stays at City.
On Monday, Michael Brown claimed Palmer was set to go on loan at Manchester City before he headed to Chelsea last summer.
Now, Martin Keown has stated that Pep Guardiola must be afforded the blame for being content with Palmer leaving the Etihad Stadium.
Keown said on talkSPORT (30/09/2024, 11:25 am): “If somebody goes away and scores 22 goals and 10 assists as he did last season and already now he has got six goals and four assists for Chelsea, then I don’t think it has been my finest hour, if I am Pep [Guardiola].”
“And it could have been avoided. I don’t know if it is egos getting in the way or it’s one of those, okay, it’s about the teams, it’s not about individuals but nonetheless, when you come through the ranks at a football club as I did at Arsenal, it was a special feeling for me.”
“I never like seeing somebody go to another big club in that manner. I think he could now be a superstar for Manchester City. I see it as a loss.”
- READ MORE: Pundit says Chelsea’s Cole Palmer still isn’t even on £225,000-a-week Man City star’s ‘level’
Savinho can silence Pep Guardiola criticism about Cole Palmer sale
A player who can help silence any of the questions aimed at Pep Guardiola due to the sale of Palmer from Manchester City is Savinho.
Unlike the England international, who drifts between playing as an attacking midfielder and out wide, the 20-year-old is much more of a natural right-winger.
However, Palmer would likely have only started on the wing if he had stayed at City due to the competition for places that the likes of Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne bring in central areas.
So far, Savinho has looked like one of Manchester City’s best players and he looks like a potential superstar in the making.
If the Brazilian attains his potential in a City shirt, perhaps many will simply be resigned to the fact that the club’s decision to sell Palmer has not aged poorly with time.
Only time will tell the player Savinho becomes in a few years’ time.
