We allowed him leave for just £50M and now he was ranked above all our players in the Balon d’Or ranking including Rodri”- Pep Guardiola regrets letting his “world class” star leave for just £50M who is now placed above their star boy in the Balon d’Or
Pep Guardiola Admits to a Costly Transfer Mistake as Former Manchester City Star Surpasses Current Squad in Ballon d’Or Rankings
Manchester City’s legendary manager, Pep Guardiola, is widely regarded as one of the most meticulous and forward-thinking coaches in football. However, even the most successful managers are not immune to mistakes, and Guardiola has recently confessed to making one of the biggest transfer blunders of his career.
In a surprising admission, Guardiola acknowledged that selling a particular player for £50 million was a decision he deeply regrets. What makes this transfer even more painful is that the former City star has now outperformed all of Manchester City’s current players—including midfield maestro Rodri—in the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings.
A Rare Miscalculation in Guardiola’s Transfer Strategy
Pep Guardiola is known for his exceptional ability to build and refine squads, ensuring Manchester City remains one of the most dominant teams in European football. However, in this instance, he seemingly misjudged the potential of a player who has since blossomed into one of the world’s elite footballers.
Reflecting on the situation, Guardiola reportedly admitted:
> “We allowed him to leave for just £50 million, and now he’s ranked above ALL our players in the Ballon d’Or, including Rodri! Selling him was my BIGGEST MISTAKE!”
For a manager who rarely makes poor transfer decisions, this revelation has sent shockwaves through the football community.
A Transfer City Fans Now Regret
At the time of the transfer, Manchester City believed they could afford to part ways with the player, assuming that their squad depth would be enough to compensate for his departure. Confident in their decision, they accepted the offer, thinking it was a shrewd business move.
However, what followed was something neither Guardiola nor City’s management could have anticipated. The player, under the guidance of a new manager who recognized his true potential, thrived in his new environment. He quickly developed into a world-class footballer, proving to be a game-changer for his new club.
His stellar performances have not only propelled his team to new heights but have also earned him recognition on the global stage, placing him higher than any current Manchester City player in the Ballon d’Or rankings. This unexpected rise has led to frustration among City supporters, many of whom now question why the club let go of such a generational talent so easily.
A Painful Lesson for Guardiola and Manchester City
For a manager who has built one of the most formidable teams in football history, seeing a former player excel while his own squad watches from behind is a tough reality to accept. Although Manchester City continues to dominate in domestic competitions, the fact that their former star is now achieving greater individual accolades than their current lineup is an undeniable blow.
As Guardiola reflects on this costly mistake, the question lingers: Will Manchester City learn from this experience and avoid similar missteps in the future? Or will they once again let go of a hidden gem, only to regret it later?
