Manchester City have reached an agreement to appoint Hugo Viana from Sporting CP as the successor to Txiki Begiristain, marking the beginning of a new era at the Etihad Stadium.
Begiristain, widely regarded as one of the top sporting directors in European football, will depart from the Premier League champions at the end of the current season.
According to Daily Mail, his likely departure this summer, prompting City to begin searching for potential replacements.
Hugo Viana, a former Newcastle United midfielder, emerged as the top candidate after demonstrating impressive results during his six-year tenure at Sporting, working alongside manager Rúben Amorim.
Under Amorim’s guidance, Sporting have clinched two of the last four Portuguese league titles and currently sit atop the league table this season, boasting eight consecutive victories.
Notably, Sporting will face Pep Guardiola’s City in the Champions League group stage early next month, and Viana’s appointment is expected to be finalized before that match.
Viana’s decision to invest over £10 million to bring Amorim from Braga in 2020 is viewed as a pivotal move that spurred Sporting’s recent dominance.
Man City are keen for the new sporting director to have a six-month handover period with Begiristain before his departure.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s future remains uncertain, as the 53-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season.
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