Manchester City has broken the winter market, the deadline of which ended last midnight. With 4 signings and a 212-million-euro investment (233.5 million dollars), it is the club that has spent the most on strengthening itself.
Guardiola is given everything he asks for
It's not unusual, anyway. As a state-owned club, money is not a problem for Manchester City. Guardiola has asked and the club has given him everything he demanded.
Manchester City is in fifth position in the Premier League. Meanwhile, outside the Champions League spots, the club is 15 points behind Liverpool and with one more game.
Its dominance in English soccer is in danger. Guardiola and his City have won 6 of the last 8 league competitions in England. Those were different times.
Things aren't going better in Europe either. City has barely qualified to play the play-off, finishing in 22nd position in the preliminary group stage.
Additionally, the club is awaiting the verdict of justice for the 115 financial irregularities it is accused of. Such an issue could lead to loss of titles and even relegation. Even so, it continues signing with money it doesn't have.
The four signings to beat Real Madrid
The Champions League play-off places the "citizens" against Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola. City has spared no expense in the winter market. It has signed Omar Marmoush (75 million), Abdukodir Khusanov (40 million), Vitor Reis (37 million), and Nico González (60 million).
In total, 212 million euros: an extravagance in a time of cost containment. On the podium, after City, is the Arab Al Nassr, which has signed Colombian John Durán for 77 million euros.
Then Rennes, with 72.7 million euros. PSG has stayed at 70 million, Al-Ahli at 59 million, and Leipzig at 55.5 million.
The Premier League is the one that has spent the most on signings: 365.15 million euros. Next, the French Ligue 1: 185.4 million, Italian Serie A: 179.7 million, Brazil: 174.53 million, and the German Bundesliga: 169.85 million euros.
The major moves have been Nico González (from Porto to Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (from Manchester United to Aston Villa), Marco Asensio (from PSG to Aston Villa), and Álvaro Morata (from Milan to Galatasaray).