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Speculations of the deals being a get-ahead move to cope with any embargo that the team might face as a result of the charges were rife but Guardiola brushed the claims off, and added the club would learn the verdict of a hearing into their…Read More
Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester City boss defended the club’s spending spree in the recently closed winter transfer window as the Premier League champions brought in as many as five players including Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Juma Bah for over 224m Pound Sterling amid the 115 charges they face on count of violating financial regulations in 2023.
Speculations of the deals being a get-ahead move to cope with any embargo that the team might face as a result of the charges were rife but Guardiola brushed the claims off, and added the club would learn the verdict of a hearing into their alleged violations of Premier League regulations in a month.
“I do not agree, but my words will not convince people that our attributes are (not) just being in a wealthy position,” Guardiola said when asked if the recruitment was a step to mitigate any future embargos.
“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 Spaniard said.
“The reason why is we have sold a lot in the last seasons but, even with that, I know what people say about this club, it is always ‘just about the money’,” the 54-year-old added.
“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,” the Spanish mastermind continued.
“Still, at the end, every club can do whatever they want,” he added.
City have always denied any wrongdoing as an independent commission looks into the hearing from Sept. 16-Dec. 6 into the charges, covering a period between 2009 and 2022-23.
If found guilty of some or all of the charges City could face penalties or monetary fines, points deductions, transfer bans, and could also be stripped of their titles and be demoted from the PL.
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