Begiristain defends Pep’s spend spree

TXIKI Begiristain has defended City’s spending during his time as chief executive.

Pep Guardiola recorded a record spend for any transfer window last summer as he dramatically overhauled the Blues following a trophyless season. That has led some to suggest City’s success this year is simply or primarily down to outspending everyone else.

However, Premier League rivals have hardly been stringent. Liverpool made Virgil Van Dijk the most expensive defender ever when they paid Southampton £75m in January, while United broke the world record transfer fee when they signed Paul Pogba for £89m – Jose Mourinho garnered little sympathy in December for claiming that his £261m spend could not compete with City.

While the Blues have spent heavily, their signings are worth considerably more now than what the club paid for them. Begiristain said: “If you look at the 10 most expensive signings of all time, none of them play for City.

“Do we have Pogba, Lukaku, Neymar or Mbappe? Of course, we made an important investment in the transfer market because we had to change the age of the squad.

“But all of the players we bought would now be worth £100m. And, in addition, Manchester City now earns a lot of money. In the last three years, we have not spent more than we have raised economically, so I see no reason for criticism.”