Pep Guardiola has rejected suggestions that Manchester City’s January spending spree was an attempt to preemptively counter any future transfer ban.
Man City made their first significant moves in a winter transfer window since signing Aymeric Laporte in 2018, splashing out £170million on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Nico Gonzalez before Monday’s deadline.
This flurry of activity has been widely interpreted as a response to an underwhelming first half of the season, during which City have fallen behind in the Premier League title race and only narrowly secured a spot in the Champions League knockout stages.
However, with a verdict expected in the coming months regarding the 115 charges City are facing over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations, some have speculated that the club’s transfer activity may also be aimed at mitigating the impact of any potential punishment.
A transfer embargo is among the sanctions City could face if found guilty, alongside options such as a fine, points deductions, or even relegation.
The club have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Pep Guardiola, however, believes that City’s actions are unfairly scrutinised due to the wealth of their owners, arguing that their spending still doesn’t rival that of other top clubs.
He said: “I do not agree, but my words will not convince people that our attributes are (not) just being in a wealthy position.
“In the last five years, we are the last team in the top six for net-spend.
“Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Tottenham, even from Liverpool.
“The reason why is we have sold a lot in the last seasons but, even with that, I know (people say about) this club, it is always ‘just about the money’.
“Respect the other ones but in one month I think there will be a verdict and a sentence and after we will see my opinion of what happened so far. Still, at the end, every club can do whatever they want.”
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