In imitation of PSG, a state club managed by Qatar, Manchester City has not escaped recurring and slanderous criticism since its takeover by the United Arab Emirates in 2008. In recent seasons, the English club has had to deal with several winds opposites, often caused by its expensive transfer windows which did not pass muster with other Premier League clubs. In February in particular, the Mancunian club was referred to an independent commission responsible for ruling on multiple alleged financial infractions between 2009 and 2018. The club managed by ADUG (Abu Dhabi United Group) is not the most parsimonious when marks the opening of the transfer market, it is common knowledge. However, it would be dishonest to reduce this giant to a simple compulsive buyer, incapable of relying on his training. Because in reality, Manchester City has real know-how in talent detection, the figures prove it. Since 2021, the English club has recovered more than 263 million euros from elements trained at the club, or post-trained. In Premier League 2, the equivalent of the PL but among the U23s, City have also triumphed in the last three seasons: a record.
The latest sale: that of Cole Palmer. A pure local product, the English international hopeful experienced the social elevator at the club, to the point of settling regularly in Pep Guardiola’s group. After an exciting preseason where he was decisive in City’s coronation against Sevilla in the European Super Cup (1-1, 5-4 tab), the 21-year-old player was sold to Chelsea for €47 million. An excessive sum – given the player’s meager credentials at the highest level – but one that speaks to the Blues’ true confidence in City’s talent. If Phil Foden, standard bearer of the cityzen training, or Rico Lewis, already considered by Guardiola as “one of the best players” that he directed, were to fly to other skies, there is no doubt that this price would be revised upwards. The ghosts of Jadon Sancho, one of the academy’s greatest talents, who left for 20 million euros to Dortmund in 2017, or even Jeremie Frimpong, sold to Celtic Glasgow for less than €400,000, and who established as one of the most sought-after right-backs in Europe at Leverkusen, have left a mark on the club, which now wants to protect its talents and make the most of them.
Manchester City knows how to expose its players
Not officially trained at Manchester City – he had two seasons at the club before the age of 21 instead of three – but post-trained, Oleksandr Zinchenko, who arrived in 2016 at Manchester City from the Russian club UFA, confirms elsewhere the empty noses of Cityzens to recruit. At the end of a loan at PSV, the Ukrainian returned to the Skyblues where he settled into Guardiola’s rotation for four seasons, before moving to Arsenal for €35 million in 2022. “Everyone is in love with him here, he was an important figure in our club. He was very good, never showed a bad face, he was always exemplary and worked to get more playing time. His loan did him good., confided the Catalan coach about him in February. If loans are not a guarantee of success despite sometimes undeniable talent, they serve as a real showcase. It is then up to the player to show himself, as Pedro Porro did for example. First sold to Sporting, then sold for €9 million in 2022, the Spaniard, who only played in U19 at City, is today an irremovable starter for Postecoglou’s Tottenham.
To another degree, international competitions can also act as a catapult. And James Trafford probably won’t say otherwise. Loaned for the last two seasons to Bolton (Championship), the 20-year-old goalkeeper has established himself as one of the very best in the championship. But it was his Euro with the English U19s last summer that propelled him into another dimension. Impassable, Trafford distinguished itself by keeping its clean sheet throughout the tournament. In the final, he also stood out by making a double-save from the penalty spot that went viral. In the wake of the tournament, Burnley, promoted to the Premier League, did not hesitate to pay €17 million to secure his services. A situation which could also happen again with Yann Couto. Loaned to Girona this season, the Brazilian right-back is proactive in the Blanquivermells’ stunning start to the season. He was also rewarded with a call-up to the Seleção after Renan Lodi’s loss in October. Angeliño, sold to Leipzig for €18 million, or Felix Nmecha, to Wolfsburg for 8, are also part of City’s long list of successes in terms of training.
Colossal sales on prospects totaling 0 professional minutes
Another trend has also surfaced in recent seasons in the Manchester City offices: the sale of talent before their professional debut. In this scenario, the buying clubs then adopt a more uncertain modus operandi: betting on potential, rather than on a basis. Thus, Manchester City managed to sell Romeo Lavia, one of the greatest talents in the academy, to Southampton in 2022 for 22 million euros. An investment that was not regretted by the Saints. Despite a difficult season marked by relegation to the Championship, the young Belgian was able to distinguish himself and convince Chelsea to recruit him for 62 million euros a year later. In April, Guardiola praised the qualities of the new Red Devil: “I’m impressed with what Romeo Lavia is doing at Southampton. We have an excellent image of him. We thought we would keep him, but we couldn’t give him enough minutes like he has at Southampton.he confided.
Bis repetita with Carlos Borges? Considered one of the greatest hopes of his generation and voted best player in Premier League 2 last season, the Portuguese signed with Ajax Amsterdam in August, a club renowned for being a talent laboratory. 0 minutes as a professional, never called up by Guardiola, but a package estimated at €19 million. Renan Lodi and the Marseillais had the chance to attend his VIP show during the Europa League match (3-3), where he also scored. Moreover, Southampton understood that talent was pouring into Manchester. In addition to Romeo Lavia, the Saints have spent more than 40 million euros on goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu (€14 million), Shea Charles (12.2), Samuel Edozie (8) and Juan Larios (7) over the past 15 months. Cumulative playing time professionally at Manchester City: 93 minutes, that is to say the equivalent of an extension and the extended stoppages of play that we have decided to impose on players in 2023 It’s a caricature, but the idea is there.
