Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is not usually one to dwell on past mistakes, but even he has acknowledged that one transfer decision continues to trouble him.
In a rare moment of reflection, Guardiola admitted that allowing a specific player to leave for just £50 million has turned out to be a significant misjudgment.
His regret has only deepened after witnessing the player outperform all of City’s top stars—including midfield maestro Rodri—in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings.
As a manager renowned for his meticulous squad management and strategic decisions, Guardiola seldom gets things wrong in the transfer market.
However, in this case, it appears he underestimated the true potential of a player who has since blossomed into one of the world’s elite footballers.
Speaking about the move, Guardiola reportedly confessed:
“We let him go for only £50 million, and now he’s ranked higher than every single one of our players in the Ballon d’Or, including Rodri! Letting him leave was the biggest mistake I’ve made.”
A Transfer Manchester City Fans Regret
At the time of the transfer, City believed they could afford to part ways with the player without suffering any long-term consequences.
The club accepted an offer that seemed financially sound, trusting that their squad depth would compensate for his departure.
However, what followed was a surprise to many.
Another manager recognized the player’s untapped potential and gave him the platform he needed to shine.
Since then, he has developed into a world-class footballer, proving beyond doubt that Manchester City may have let go of a generational talent far too soon.
His outstanding performances have not only propelled his new club to greater heights but have also drawn global recognition, culminating in his remarkable placement above Rodri in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
Naturally, this has sparked frustration among City fans, many of whom are now questioning the club’s decision-making process.
Supporters have been left wondering why a player of such immense talent was allowed to leave so easily and why City failed to recognize his true potential.
Has Guardiola Made His Greatest Transfer Blunder?
For a manager who has constructed one of the most dominant teams in modern football, this particular transfer could be remembered as one of Guardiola’s greatest miscalculations.
While Manchester City remains a powerhouse in domestic and European football, watching a former player thrive at an even higher level than their current stars must be a bitter pill to swallow.
The key question now is whether Guardiola and the Manchester City hierarchy have learned from this mistake.
Will they allow another world-class talent to slip through their fingers in the future, or will this regret serve as a lesson to be more cautious in their transfer dealings?
Only time will tell if City can avoid making such a costly error again.
