Kieran Maguire: Man City now ‘offering more’ than Man United amid £40m reveal
Man City are generating more cash than Man United in academy player sales because they are able to offer rising stars better facilities and prospects.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 2021-22 Premier League champions’ success in the youth department.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday (19 July) that City have banked in £40million from academy sales in the current summer window alone.
Gavin Bazunu, 20, and Romeo Lavia, 18, have both left for Southampton in recent weeks.
Neither player made a Premier League appearance for City but have netted the club eight-figure transfer fees.
Maguire explained that the youth production line is a vital source of revenue for the club as they look to extend their strategic lead over their Manchester rivals.
“Some investments do take a long time to generate that return,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“What we are seeing at City is on the back of the Elite Player Performance Plan, which I think has gone hugely under the radar.
“We were seeing City trailing behind Man United for a long time in terms of what they could offer to young talent in the area. That has certainly reversed and they are offering more these days.
“City are begining to reap the rewards of that. Looking at the new Uefa FFP rules, that is absolutely critical because they only generate half as much matchday income as United.
“They have to address that gap if they are going to be successful in the transfer market and in terms of paying wages.”
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