Kieran Maguire tips Man City to bypass transfer rules after Fifa update
Man City will use City Football Group’s global network of clubs to circumvent Fifa’s new curbs on the loan system.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the reforms set to come into force on 1 July.
Fifa announced last Thursday (20 January) that clubs will only be permitted to have six players out on international loans at any one time.
Per The Athletic on Wednesday, the governing body has since confirmed that the rules only apply to club-trained players under the age of 21.
The regulations are intended to stop super-rich clubs from hoarding the game’s top talent.
City currently have a league-high of 35 players out on loan, with 12 of those temporary deals based overseas.
But Maguire argues that the club will use their multi-club network to soften the blow to their recruitment and development strategy.
“I think City have future-proofed themselves by going down the multi-club model,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“If City Football Group identify promising players, rather than signing them and loaning them out they can sign them through one of the other clubs in the group.
“Their progress can be monitored at those other clubs. This is another indication that City are always a few steps ahead.
“They have a strategy and respond to issues before they become problems rather than reacting in an ex-ante manner.“
City Football Group currently have outposts in nine different countries.
New York City, Montevideo Torque and Girona are among the clubs in which they have significant control.
In other news, ex-Fifa official claims Man City victims of major injustice as Kevin De Bruyne controversy analysed.