Kieran Maguire tips Man City to ‘circumvent’ new Fifa rules after official announcement
Man City can “circumvent” Fifa’s new constraints on the international loan market through their sprawling multi-club empire.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the new curbs from world football’s governing body.
Fifa confirmed on Wednesday (30 March) that the wide-ranging measures would come into force in order to stop clubs from “hoarding” young talent.
Clubs will be barred from sending over eight players out on international loans or having more than eight loanees on the books at a time from 1 July.
This number will be reduced to seven from 1 July 2023, and finally six from the same date in 2024.
City currently have 13 senior players out on loan at overseas clubs.
But Maguire claims that they can use the 11-strong stable of clubs owned by City Football Group to effectively bypass the rules.
“These rules could be circumvented by having satellite clubs that can effectively look after the players,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“Instead of City buying players and letting them out on loan, they will end up at some other place in the group. So, I don’t see this being a huge issue.
“It could even be an opportunity to loan out more players to domestic clubs. When one door shuts, another one opens.”
Fifa have also ruled that all loan deals must last at least between two transfer windows.
City Football Group recently completed the takeover of Dutch side NAC Breda, their fifth acquisition in Europe.
In other news, pundit expects Raheem Sterling to quit Man City this summer as Arsenal bid touted.