BIG CITY SPREE PUTS CLUB ON WATCH LIST
Manchester side back under Uefa rule scope for transfer splurge
MANCHESTER City are back on Uefa’s financial watch list after their £220-million (R3.8-billion) spending spree during this bold transfer-signing window. City and Paris St-Germain were fined for breaching Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules three years ago, and the two clubs’ activity in this transfer window is being scrutinised again.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola could take his spending to about the £300-million (R5.2-billion) – mark if he manages to sign over £60-million-rated (R1.05-billion) Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez, from Arsenal, and bring in another centre-half.
City are also prepared to rival Real Madrid for a £161-million (R2.8-billion) purchase of Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe, in the event they cannot persuade Arsenal to sell Sanchez – a move that would push their spending closer to £400-million (R6.9-billion).
PSG have spent only £13.5-million (R236-million) so far on left-back Yuri Berchiche, from Real Sociedad, and brought right-back Dani Alves in on a free transfer from Juventus.
But the French club are prepared to break the world transfer record by meeting the £196-million (R2.9-billion) release clause in star Brazil forward Neymar’s contract with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Both City and PSG have to tread carefully, because a second breach of FFP would leave them open to more severe punishment from Uefa, including a ban from European competition.
Manchester City, who spent more than £170-million in the transfer market last summer, recorded a £20.5-million (R357-million) profit on record revenues of £391.8-million (R6.8-billion) for the 2015-16 season.
Clubs can be granted special dispensation to run up bigger losses than those allowed under Uefa guidelines, but that does not apply to teams punished in the past three years under FFP.
So, another significant outlay by Manchester City before the August 31 transfer deadline is likely to invite deeper investigation.
This week, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho called on Uefa to get tough and claimed FFP rule had “big work to do because, probably, there are some strategies of disguise”.
Andrea Traverso, who heads up the FFP, said: “We do not make a distinction, all clubs are treated in the same way. PSG and Manchester City have been punished, but I can tell you Inter Milan and Roma have been restricted, too.
“It’s been a long time since 2014 when the rules had been introduced. Now, everyone knows them.
“PSG are no longer under those restrictions, but that does not mean they can start to do what they want as a club.
“They must respect Financial Fair Play regulations, just like everyone else in Europe. They must show they can have losses that do not go beyond ß30-million [R457-million] over three years.
Guardiola had ridiculed reports in March that City could sign at least six players – and more than a dozen leave the club by saying: “I am going to assure you, it’s impossible to do that.”
But that is exactly what is materialising during a summer of huge upheaval at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester that could eventually result in a turnover of up to 25 players.
City have made six signings so far, with goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, defenders Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo and midfielders Bernardo Silva and Douglas Luiz – and want to bring in at least two more star players. Ten players have been sold or released for a combined sum of £42-million (R732-million), while Joe Hart has been loaned to West Ham United and the number of departures could swell to 18, if Eliaquim Mangala, Wilfried Bony, Fabian Delph, Fernando, Samir Nasri, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jason Denayer all go, as expected – as Manchester City push hard over the next few weeks to shed the deadwood.