Pep Guardiola ended speculation over his Manchester City future by signing a new two-year deal this week, but Pol Ballus and Sam Lee of The Athletic revealed how a ‘bargain’ signing was the biggest indication that the executive board trusted the 51-year-old.
Man City had an injury crisis at centre-back earlier in the season when Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte were both on the treatment table, leaving Pep with only two defenders at his disposal. John Stones wasn’t fully fit either, so Guardiola wanted to sign an alternative despite being content with the size his squad.
Pep ‘panicked’ that City would suffer adverse results due to their injury crisis in defence, so the executive board sanctioned a transfer for another centre-back – Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund.
The Sky Blues were delighted to bag themselves a bargain for £17m as they believed the 27-year-old’s true value would be over £50m had his contract not been running down.
And with Akanji going on to make 12 appearances in all competitions this season, featuring in a makeshift role at right-back, the Swiss international has been a great acquisition.
The fact Guardiola was trusted to sign a fifth centre-back so late in the transfer window confirmed he had full faith to mould City in his image.
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