A passage of witness. After 12 years of good and loyal service, but also success, Txiki Begiristain slowly passes his hand to Hugo Viana. The latter was officially appointed director of Cityzens football on October 12. “Manchester City can confirm that Txiki Begiristain will leave his full -time role of football director at the end of the 2024/25 season. Txiki will leave his current position following the participation of the club in the FIFA club World Cup this summer and will be replaced by Hugo Viana of the Sporting CP. Viana will start her full -time role in the summer of 2025, but will collaborate with Txiki in the previous months to ensure a smooth transition. We are impatient to pay tribute to the exceptional contribution from Txiki to Manchester City at the end of the season ”could be read on the official press release.
A page will therefore turn to residents of Etihad Stadium who now count on Viana to bring its expertise and ideas. And it will take to relaunch the Mancunian machine, which has lived a terribly difficult season between injuries and bad results. A context that was not necessarily ideal for the Portuguese leader, who wants to carry out his mission with the help of Txiki Begiristain at first. It will not be too much when the Premier League team has several projects to manage. After formalizing the departure of Kevin de Bruyne after his contract on June 30, Viana and City's thinking heads finalized the extension of Ilkay Gündogan. Even if the German has not always shone since its return last summer, it is an experienced element on which Pep Guardiola counts.
Viana already has work to do
The Spanish technician will have to decide with Viana and Begiristain about other cases. Indeed, they will have to decide on Ederson, at the end of the contract in 2026. If the Brazilian remains, Stefan Ortega, also at the end of the contract in a year, will go. Otherwise, it could remain, unless the English recruit a new goalkeeper. In the same situation, Bernardo Silva, whom some announce back to Benfica, still counts in the eyes of Guardiola ensures the Manchester Evening News. John Stones and Nathan Aké are also in this case. Skyblues will have to make a choice concerning two elements which often go through the infirmary box. This bothers Pep Guardiola, who wants reliable players who can take a number of games in the season. THE Men explains that Ruben Dias and Phil Foden are the two elements on which the club wants to bet for the next 5 years.
They will be brought to become real leaders after the departures of KDB and Kyle Walker. Besides Erling Haaland, who is still linked to Real Madrid, they will also be supported by recruits. To replace Bruyne, Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen) has the preference of managers. A left side is also desired ensures the Men. The name of the versatile Andrea Cambaso (Juventus), capable of playing right as on the left, is cited insistence. Between the 5 files concerning possible extensions (Ederson, Ortega, Bernardo Silva, Stones and Aké) and the two priorities for the transfer window (a lateral and the successor of KDB), Manchester City has several major projects to manage this summer 2025. A first summer spent alongside a Hugo Viana who will have to settle and prove his proofers to allow the residents of Etihad Stadium to find the heights. All by having a participation in the Club World Cup to manage.
