Txiki Begiristain’s 5 best transfers and 5 worst transfers at Man City
Txiki Begiristain has left Man City after 13 dominant years but things have not always gone smoothly for the club’s former director of football.
The ex-Barcelona forward joined the Sky Blues in 2012 after seven years as director of football at his former club.
Txiki’s arrival in Manchester was not an instant success, as the Sky Blues went trophy-less in his first season following a series of transfer mistakes.
Javi Garcia, Matija Nastastic, and Jack Rodwell were the main signings of the summer, and each of that trio struggled to leave a lasting impact on the club.
But just one season later, Fernandinho and Jesus Navas joined Man City as the club claimed a Premier League and League Cup double.
13 years on from his arrival, the Sky Blues now have a bulging trophy case and are without a doubt one of the best clubs in the world. So, who were the signings that helped form that legacy? And who were the mistakes that threatened to bring it all crumbling down?
Txiki Begiristain’s biggest transfer mistakes
Txiki ironed out the mistakes early in his stint in Manchester, but that does not mean that every transfer has been perfect in recent history.
Cole Palmer – 2023
One glaring example is Cole Palmer. Those around the club and the supporters who paid attention could see the club had a star in the making during his early academy days.
The Englishman broke into Pep Guardiola’s first team in the 2020/21 season, but after three seasons on the periphery, Palmer was sold to Chelsea for £40million [Sky Sports].
The fee looked like a solid amount for a player struggling to earn starting minutes during his time at City, but two seasons later, it’s clear Txiki got that one horribly wrong.
Kalvin Phillips – 2022
Winding back the clock a few seasons leads us to Kalvin Phillips. The ex-Leeds United man was coming off the back of two solid seasons in the Premier League and was England’s starting central midfielder at the 2020 Euros.
City paid £45million [Sky Sports] for his services in 2022, and in that time, the 29-year-old has made 31 appearances for the Sky Blues, spending two seasons out on loan at West Ham and Ipswich Town. Ouch.
The 2012/13 window was particularly painful for fans of the club. None of the signings were good, to put it simply, but one stood out from the rest.
Jack Rodwell – 2012
Jack Rodwell was England’s next great hope. The hulking midfielder had a deft touch and was dominating games for Everton.
City took a chance and signed the then-21-year-old for an initial fee of £12m [BBC Sport], and the youngster appeared just 25 times over two seasons, before being sold at a loss to Sunderland, where he would become infamous for his refusal to take a pay cut after the club’s back-to-back relegations.
Eliaquim Mangala & Wilfried Bony – 2014
Joining Rodwell on the miss list are the two players Txiki pinned his flag to in the 2014/15 window: Eliaquim Mangala and Wilfried Bony.
The pair cost an eye-watering £66m between them, and after a combined 108 appearances, Txiki managed to recoup £12m [Sky Sports] for the Ivorian striker, whilst the French defender would leave the Sky Blues for nothing after five years in Manchester.
Txiki Begiristain’s biggest transfer hits
Fernandinho – 2013
He’s already been mentioned, so it makes sense to start with Txiki’s first hit: Fernandinho.
The bruising Brazilian midfielder arrived with the club coming off the back of a second-placed finish and reeling from a disastrous 2012/13 window.
Fernandinho spent nine trophy-laden years with Man City, claiming an astonishing 11 trophies and even earning himself a place in the PFA team of the year in the 2018/19 season.
However, whilst the 2012/13 window was a horror show, Txiki really came into his own in 2015/16.
Kevin De Bruyne & Raheem Sterling – 2015
The Spaniard took two big risks, bringing Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling to Man City for a combined £98m [transfermarkt].
The Belgian midfielder ran the show for City during his decade at the club, and is a bona fide Premier League all-timer, but at the time, many had their doubts after his less-than-stellar stint with Chelsea.
Sterling, meanwhile, developed from a raw wide man into Guardiola’s greatest weapon, featuring in a variety of positions and always excelling, despite missing a few easy tap-ins here and there.
Ederson – 2017
Just two years later, Ederson joined and whilst the Brazilian shot-stopper has had his critics, the former Benfica man has been a colossus for Guardiola, bringing about a culture shift that now sees every goalkeeper in world football judged on their ability with their feet.
Jack Grealish – 2021
And the final hit on our list goes to none other than Jack Grealish.
The former Aston Villa star cost a then-British-record fee of £100m [BBC Sport]. The talented England international’s relationship with Guardiola has been difficult, and we have never seen him hit the heights at City.
But, there is no doubt that Grealish was a vital part of the Sky Blues’ treble-winning season in 2022/23, and for those contributions, both he and Txiki deserve their plaudits.