Man City have suffered ‘big’ blow after exit bombshell – Stefan Borson
Manchester City have suffered a “big blow” after it’s been confirmed Txiki Begiristain will leave the club at the end of this season.
That is the view of former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the director of football has been on the verge of leaving the Premier League champions on various occasions over the past few years.
Begiristain, who has spent 12 years at the Etihad, had planned to step away from day-to-day operations when he turned 55 before then extending his stay until his 60th birthday to continue his work with manager and friend Pep Guardiola.
Man City confirmed in a statement on 12 October the Spaniard will now leave the club at the end of this season after turning 60 in August this year.
Begiristain will be replaced by Sporting Lisbon’s director of football Hugo Viana, who spent four years playing for Newcastle United between 2002 and 2006.
Man City to face problem after Txiki Begiristain exit
Borson revealed Begiristain’s departure will pose a problem for Man City.
“It’s a big hit, but it was always going to happen,” Borson told Football Insider.
“It’s nearly happened a few times over the years. I think he’s considered retiring from the age of 55 and he’s now 60.
“As I understand it, there has been various times over the last few years where he’s been on the verge of leaving and has postponed it, but he’s decided not to postpone it any longer.
“But is it a big blow because he’s been central to City’s success since 2012.
“His fingerprints are all over not just Pep’s situation, but also a lot of the signings that were made in the Pellegrini era as well. City did win the league under Pellegrini as well, albeit it only once, but people do forget that.
“If it coincides with Guardiola leaving as well and perhaps other people within that sort of block of Catalonian management, then the issue will clearly be big.
“We know in football succession issues are a big problem. United have had famous issues since Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill left, and Arsenal took a long time to settle down after Arsene Wenger left.
“We know these sorts of disruptions are significant. He’s been at the club a very long time.
“I don’t think we should read too much into it, but it will be a problem.”
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