In a recent statement, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, shed light on the differing treatment his club receives in terms of transfer spending, particularly compared to Chelsea.
Guardiola argued that if Manchester City were to splash out as much money on new signings as Chelsea had over the past year, they would face severe criticism.
Manchester City’s spending has been under intense scrutiny since Sheikh Mansour took over the ownership in 2008.
Currently, the Premier League has brought forth 115 charges against the club for alleged financial regulation breaches.
Contrastingly, Chelsea has spent an impressive $1 billion in player transfer fees since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover of the club in May 2022.
Guardiola expressed his concern and stated, “We’d be under scrutiny like you couldn’t imagine. I couldn’t sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows – you would kill me.
He emphasized the necessity for Manchester City to carefully consider market conditions and fair valuations of players before making any significant moves.
Additionally, Guardiola highlighted the importance of the club’s academy system as an alternative source of talent.
Recent signings for Manchester City include defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with transfer fees reported at 90 million euros ($97.79 million) and 25 million pounds ($32 million), respectively.
In contrast, Chelsea has already acquired eight new players for their squad. The most recent addition is midfielder Romeo Lavia, signed for a reported fee of 53 million pounds.
This follows the arrival of Moises Caicedo, whose transfer fee could potentially reach a British record of 115 million pounds.
Guardiola made it clear that he does not criticize Chelsea and their spending habits. He acknowledged, “I don’t criticise Chelsea for one second. I’m saying, if we do it, we’re dead, all around the world. They can do what they want.”
He also noted that Chelsea’s ability to spend big sums is supported by their successful sales this season.
Manchester City kicked off their Premier League title defense with a convincing 3-0 victory over Burnley last week. They are set to face Newcastle United in their upcoming match.