Manchester City will be waving goodbye to a key club figure at the end of the season.
During the October international break, it was reported that Txiki Begiristain will be leaving his role as City’s sporting director in the summer.
It was then claimed that City had agreed a deal to see Hugo Viana replace Begiristain.
This was eventually confirmed in an official statement shared on the official Man City website, which also highlighted how Viana will be working alongside the current sporting director to ensure a smooth transition.
Even though there are still a few months left of football to play before the 60-year-old’s exit from the Etihad Stadium, some behind-the-scenes details have come to light regarding what Begiristain’s future could hold.
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Txiki Begiristain eyed for new role after Man City summer exit
A recent report from the Daily Mail shared this insight into Begiristain’s potential next step.
It said: “Outgoing Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain will not be short of offers when departs the Etihad this summer.
“The famed Spanish administrator is expected to take some time out of the game before deciding on his next role in football when he leaves City at the end of the season.
“But clubs, particularly across the Middle East, are already preparing to offer Begiristain, who has led some of the biggest transfers in European football history, work – initially on a consultancy basis – once he leaves his current role with the Premier League champions.
“There is said to be particular interest in the 60-year-old from the Saudi Pro League, who have already attracted some of the most recognisable players in the world to their division.”
Begiristain’s top five most expensive Man City signings
To highlight the significant impact that Begiristain has had during his time as City’s sporting director, here are the five most expensive transfer deals he’s been involved in since his arrival in 2012.
| Name | Transfer Fee | Year |
| Jack Grealish | £100m | 2021 |
| Josko Gvardiol | £77.6m | 2023 |
| Ruben Dias | £65m | 2020 |
| Rodri | £62.5m | 2019 |
| Riyad Mahrez | £60m | 2018 |
Aside from his knack of landing significant transfer deals, Pep Guardiola has also highlighted other things he’ll miss about Begiristain at City, saying this on the matter.
He said: “A part of me is leaving, I would say. A friend of mine, one of the architects to create one of the best teams ever in Barcelona at that time, and now here.
“I’ve known the decision for a long time, for family reasons and personal reasons, I know how grateful he is for this experience here.
“Personally he will be missed, but of course, he will be missed a lot, for the confidence, the trust, especially in bad moments because he made me incredibly balanced in my job because I’m so energetic.
“When it’s going bad I want to destroy everything, and all the time he said, ‘See you tomorrow, take a coffee’. And his balance to be completely crazy in other ones, his pause helped me lot in my period in Barcelona and of course, here.
“But I have the opinion that the club is so solid, incredibly well structured and the club will have to move on.”
Taking into account the number of trophies City have won during Begiristain’s tenure as the club’s sporting director, it wouldn’t surprise any supporter to hear that he has already garnered interest from clubs in the Middle East.
Regardless of where he ends up following his successful spell with City, everyone at the club should be very grateful for what Begiristain has done for the Blues.
With that in mind, it’s clear that Viana has big shoes to fill once he officially begins his role as Begirstain’s successor.
