‘Man City 115 charges case takes twist after intriguing Pep Guardiola comments’
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has made rare comments on the club’s 115 charges case, which was fought against the Premier League late last year.
As per the BBC (7 February), Guardiola said: “In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence.”
He also defended the club’s January splurge amid suggestions City are expecting a transfer ban as punishment over the Premier League’s allegations.
The Spanish boss said: “My words will not convince people. I know with this club it is always ‘just about the money’. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons.”
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – suggested Man City may be trying to “get on the front foot” in a new twist, with a verdict expected imminently.
Man City make move to ‘get on the front foot’ with Guardiola comments
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed he still expects the independent commission’s verdict to arrive around Easter – which falls in late April this year.
City are accused of breaching Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules over a nine-year period and concealing payments through third parties by disguising them as sponsorship revenue – but strenuously deny the allegations.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I think we’ll see the verdict at Easter, or just beyond Easter.
“What was interesting is seeing Pep talking about this case now.
“Before, he’d been completely silent – I’m just wondering why he’s saying anything at all now.
“I’m not really looking at the content of what he’s saying, but I’m just wondering why the manager is passing comment on this.
“I don’t know whether it’s City trying to get on the front foot. I’m trying to decipher what this really means.
“They’re obviously bullish, the Premier League remain bullish – we’re just waiting for the verdict to be handed down.
“It’ll be big news and we’ll all be poring over that document.”
Man City set sights on Serie A duo
Football Insider revealed on 8 February that Man City are eyeing deals to sign AC Milan and Juventus stars Theo Hernandez and Andrea Cambiaso.
Cambiaso was Man City’s top target in the final week of the transfer window, but Juventus were holding out for a £60million fee.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have been alerted to Hernandez’s situation after they missed out on Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies – who opted to extend his stay in the Bundesliga.
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