Manchester City

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I wrote last week that for a couple of reasons Manchester City's return to the very top table is still an 'if' rather than a 'when'. Brighton underlined another worrying problem at the weekend.

City in their pomp carried an aura. Many teams were beaten before they walked on to the pitch, because either the manager was intimidated and played more negative tactics or some of the players simply did not believe they were capable of standing toe to toe with this well-oiled and super talented machine.

Although not the first, Brighton showed clearly that this fear factor has well and truly gone from many of the other Premier League teams.

It is just another thing making City's road back to the top all the more difficult.

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Tottenham could re-open talks with Manchester City over a deal for 30-year-old Netherlands defender Nathan Ake in January. (Caughtoffside), external

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Freddie Pye
Fan writer

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When Hugo Viana got under way prior to the Club World Cup, many Manchester City fans could not believe their eyes.

Deals progressed at a staggering rate, and problem positions were being addressed with intent. The decision to allow Kevin de Bruyne to leave was becoming a distant memory as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki bolstered central roles. Even the failure to secure Florian Wirtz was being overlooked by the time the Frenchman walked through the doors.

Add to that the signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri and City travelled to the US with fresh impetus, new energy, and heading in exactly the right direction with weeks to go until the start of the new season.

But by the time players returned from their respective summer holidays, very little else had happened. Fans still believed there was work to be done: doubts were looming in goal, right-back remained a concern with no natural successor to Kyle Walker, and the options out wide were not as strong as they should be.

Then came (back) James Trafford, and it seemed as though business was starting to intensify once more. A review of numbers was urgently required though, with Pep Guardiola reminding of his preference to work with a smaller group.

After three Premier League matches brought a win and two defeats, more concerns were raised. Had Viana failed to recruit in crucial positions - a theme that has been prevalent in recent transfer windows?

Deadline day arrived and so did a flurry of business; Ederson joined Fenerbahce, Manuel Akanji joined Inter on loan with a buy-option, and Ilkay Gundogan finalised a free transfer to Galatasaray.

Gianluigi Donnarumma closed off the club's first-team business, bringing a staggering change of direction between the posts. From the one-of-a-kind ball-playing ability that fans have become accustomed to with Ederson, to arguably the world's best traditional shot-stopping abilities.

And that was that.

Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis remain City's mainstay right-backs, Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Omar Marmoush, and Oscar Bobb are likely to hold down wide roles, and creativity in the centre will largely hinge on Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki - the latter of which is in a two-month recovery process from a reported thigh injury.

Gaping holes after such a promising start to a crucial summer, but one that has left huge questions to be asked about squad planning and direction.

It has also been a summer that perhaps creates significant doubts over just how far Pep Guardiola can take this set of players in the immediate term.

Only time will tell.

Rating: 6/10

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Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Ederson, Manuel Akanji and now Ilkay Gundogan. Manchester City's summer overhaul of their squad has been completed - and just take a look at the amount of experience lost from the dressing room.

Boss Pep Guardiola openly spoke about the need to work with a smaller squad as he did not want "leave four or five players at home" on matchdays, but it is a new and younger group that will now take the club forward.

Sources had told BBC Sport earlier in the window that Gundogan would be allowed to explore his options if a good enough offer came in and the 34-year-old has now been allowed to depart.

German-born but with Turkish heritage, Gundogan heads 'home' to Galatasaray, a club he apparently supported as a kid after posting such pictures on social media.

Gundogan will forever be remembered for his late double to seal the Premier League title in 2022 and will undoubtedly receive a tremendous welcome when he returns to the Etihad with Galatasaray in January in the group phase of the Champions League.

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Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Manchester City have cut ticket prices for Champions League games at Etihad Stadium, with some available for as little as £10.

Some supporters staged protests at games last season with regards to matchday ticket pricing and season ticket availability.

In June, the club announced they had cut ticket prices for Premier League games by up to 43% and they have now taken that forward into Europe's elite club competition.

Adult tickets in European games for matches against Bayer Leverkusen and Galatasaray will cost between £25 and £55, while they will be priced between £10 and £25 for Under 18s.

Watching the return of Kevin de Bruyne to Etihad Stadium with Napoli for the opening group phase game and the match against Borussia Dortmund will cost between £30 and £60 for adults and £12.50 to £30 for Under 18s.

The Napoli fixture marks a significant reduction from the equivalent game last season against Inter Milan, where adult ticket prices ranged from £37.50 to £77.50.

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We asked for your views on Manchester City's new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has signed from Paris Saint-Germain on a five-year-deal.

Here are some of your comments:

Kevin: A proven world class goalkeeper. I've seen a lot of negatives from these so called experts, but I think we have signed the best there is. I'm sorry to see Ederson go as he has given us a great eight years. I'm sure everyone connected to City will wish him well.

Grace: Excited to see what Donnarumma can bring to City. He is a proven world class keeper. Sad to see Ederson go after a trophy laden eight years. Although, I won't miss his last gasp saves and his mad runs out of goal.

Warren: Signing of Donnarumma is excellent because he's world class and has won a lot with Paris St-Germain. He will also teach James Trafford and push him to be a better goalkeeper in the future. I think Trafford is the future but Donnarumma is the now and that's what we as a club need.

Former Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart says Gianluigi Donnarumma "is more than capable with his feet" despite some of the wider concern about his ball-playing ability.

"I have watched him play under pressure and I have watched him play all the way through from 16-years-old," said Hart on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"There was a boy there who could hold his nerve for AC Milan and then he went to Paris St-Germain and helped them win trophies.

"I am a big James Trafford fan too, but why would you not sign someone like Donnarumma who can win you games?

"He is absolutely humongous and makes top saves at the top level.

"Pep Guardiola is ruthless now, he wants someone who he knows is world class.

"Trafford has potential, and I think they will nurse that, but he might not get what he wanted out of this season. I still think he can have a Manchester City career, for sure.

"I watched PSG last year and I didn't think that they had to play long because Donnarumma was in goal. They played through the system without a problem and they hardly got caught out by anyone."

The Observer's Rory Smith added: "Donnarumma's like having a bear in goal - why would you not want to have a bear in goal?"

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Gianluigi Donnarumma says he is "very excited for what lies ahead" after completing a move to Manchester City from Paris St-Germain.

The 26-year-old Italy goalkeeper has signed on a five-year deal and will wear the number 99 shirt.

He made 161 appearances for PSG, winning four league titles and a Champions League, among other trophies.

"I have admired watching Manchester City for many years - so to now be able to play for the club is a huge honour and a privilege," said Donnarumma. "I cannot wait to meet my new team-mates, the staff and the fans.

"Playing at Etihad Stadium will be very, very special for me.

"I am very excited for what lies ahead and can promise I will give absolutely everything to try to help the club achieve even more success."

Director of football Hugo Viana added: "Gianluigi's pedigree, quality and record speaks for itself, and we are all absolutely thrilled he has joined us here at City.

"He has accumulated a wealth of top-level experience and knows what is required to achieve success on a sustained level.

"From a remarkably young age, he has played at the very top level. That is unusual for a goalkeeper and it means he arrives here as one of the best in the world in his position.

"There is no doubt Gianluigi will bring further quality and depth to our top-class goalkeeping department."

A statement signing by City? Or should Guardiola have kept his trust in James Trafford?

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Defender Manuel Akanji has completed a season-long loan move to Inter Milan.

The 30-year-old Switzerland international moved to City from Borussia Dortmund in September 2022 and has made 136 appearances for the Blues, playing a key role in the 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign.

Akanji made 40 appearances for Pep Guardiola's side in 2024-25 but had been linked with a move away throughout the summer.

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Ederson says it has "been the most special time of my life" as he leaves after eight-years at Manchester City.

The Brazil goalkeeper, who has completed a move to Fenerbahce, has won 18 trophies under Pep Guardiola, and his six Premier League titles make him the most decorated keeper in the history of the competition.

He departs for the Turkish side having played 372 times.

"I leave Manchester City incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and I am honoured to have worn the shirt so many times," Ederson said. "Under Pep, we have won dominated the Premier League and conquered Europe. It has been amazing.

"I would first of all like to thank him and head of goalkeeping Xabier Mancisidor for making me the best goalkeeper I could be and teaching so much about the game.

"I must also thank my team-mates. Our desire to win every game we play has been a joy to be a part of and that has made me relish every day on the training field or in the dressing room with every one of you.

"Finally, the fans. Thank you for making me feel at home in a city so far away from where I am from and for supporting me throughout what has been an amazing period for me and my family.

"I arrived in Manchester eight years ago full of hope, but I could not have predicted such a beautiful time together.

"Playing for City has been the most special time of my life and I will always be a fan of this special club. I'm going with my wife and children, but I'm leaving a big family here, Cityzens. Once a Blue, always a Blue."

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Manchester City's out-of-possession work has been the source of some of their recent struggles.

Last week, we drew attention to Tottenham exposing City's high press by targeting the wide areas.

That tactic looks to be more an emerging pattern than a one-off, with Brighton's winner in their 2-1 victory on Sunday highlighting many of the same concerns.

For both Spurs' opening goal and Brighton's second, the ball is moved to a defender out wide, with City's attacker unable to press tightly. The wide player is able to turn and face forward before playing a long, direct pass down the channel.

One of their team-mates drops deeper, dragging City's full-back with them - Nathan Ake against Spurs and Rico Lewis against Brighton.

That means City end up with three players in their backline, who shift over to cover the space left by the full-back. One of City's centre-backs has to defend on the flank in an area they're less comfortable in, making them more likely to lose their duel.

Opposition players are then able to run in the space between the three defenders. Brighton, for example, had four players in attack against City's back three.

Brighton also vacated the central areas knowing that, by building down the sides, their players would be more dangerous out wide or running in behind.

With this pattern having emerged in City's past two games, it is worthwhile monitoring how Pep Guardiola will seek to address the issue.

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

Manchester City have agreed a £26m deal to sign goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain on a five-year deal, with the option of a further year.

City have also agreed to sell Ederson to Turkish side Fenerbahce for £12.1m.

No news yet on when those two deals will be announced officially.

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Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

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Serie A side Inter Milan have agreed to sign Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji on loan for one million euros (£870,000).

The deal includes an option to make the move permanent for 15m euros (£13m), which becomes an obligation if Inter win Serie A.

The 30-year-old Switzerland international has not featured for City this season and had interest from Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Galatasaray, but his preference was to move to a club playing in the Champions League.

Jordan Butler
BBC Sport journalist

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Gianluigi Donnarumma's move to Manchester City looks increasingly likely, so how does the Italian compare with their current crop of goalkeepers and will he fit in Pep Guardiola's system?

The 26-year-old's availability is thought to be related to his ability with the ball at his feet, with PSG head coach Luis Enrique stating he was "looking for a goalkeeping profile that is different".

Guardiola also requires his goalkeepers to be brave on the ball and even initiate attacks. The outgoing Ederson is an excellent passer and has contributed a Premier League record of seven assists for a goalkeeper in his time at the club, with four of those coming last season.

Donnarumma is yet to provide an assist but his passing accuracy in the French top flight was 85.4% last season, just below the Brazilian's Premier League percentage and above that of Stefan Ortega.

It is his save percentage of 66.2% that is surprising. He kept just four clean sheets in 24 league starts and conceded almost four goals more than he should have according to Opta, with his goals prevented total -3.6.

He has posted far better numbers in previous seasons and also during the successful 2024-25 Champions League campaign, where he kept out more than 70% of shots faced. He is also formidable when facing penalties and has saved almost one in four spot-kicks.

Donnarumma remains an elite shot-stopper with an exceptional reach and dominance in one-on-one situations, and is not as bad on the ball as some critics would suggest. He would likely improve any Premier League team, even Manchester City.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

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Manchester City's out-of-possession work has been the source of some of their struggles in recent weeks.

Losses to both Tottenham and Brighton highlight an emerging pattern that is likely contributing to City's poor start to the season. City press high against opponents when they build up from the goalkeeper. The instruction to press high, paired with asking the full-back to cover a larger distance in which they are tasked with pressing, has given teams the chance to exploit Guardiola's men down the flanks.

For both the first goal Spurs scored and the second goal Brighton scored, the ball is moved to a defender out wide with City's attacker unable to press them tightly. The opposition's wide player is able to turn and face forwards before playing a direct pass into the channels.

One of the opposition players drops deeper dragging City's full-back with them, Nathan Ake against Spurs and Rico Lewis against Brighton.

City, therefore, end up with three players in their backline, with all three players shifting over to cover the space left vacant by the full-back.

One of City's centre-backs ends up having to defend on the flank in an area they are less comfortable with, making them more likely to lose their respective duel.

Opposition players are then able to run into the space between the spread-out three defenders.

With this general pattern seen in their two most recent games, it is worthwhile paying attention to how Guardiola and co seek to address this problem going forward.

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Wayne Rooney believes Manchester City cannot be favourites for the Premier League title this season.

"City are still finding their feet with quite a few new players. It looked like they're still trying to figure out each other's game and how to gel better together, and they've lost big characters in the dressing room as well.

"Pep Guardiola will be very disappointed [with the Brighton defeat]. I don't see them as favourites [for the title]. Every year, in the last few years, I've seen them as favourites and the best team, but I don't think they're in the top two or three this year. It will be an interesting season for them."

Nonetheless, the former Manchester United forward maintains if City don't exceed expectations, then Guardiola might lose his post.

"If City don't win the league this year, I don't think Pep will be there. It might be a team in transition looking for a new manager and new players.

"So, I don't think you can look at it and say it's going to take the next three years to rebuild another title-winning team when there's probably uncertainty if the manager will still be there."

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Sean Kearns
BBC Sport

Pep Guardiola's best teams have been built on control, patterns of play and attacking incision.

When Manchester City beat Wolves 4-0 on the opening weekend of the season, it was natural to think the troubles that had plagued them last term had been erased over the summer.

But Sunday's defeat on the south coast was a repeat of the inconsistency City displayed throughout last season.

Guardiola's side stifled Brighton in the first half, limiting the Seagulls to a single opportunity through Kaoru Mitoma.

Erling Haaland, making his 100th Premier League appearance for City, opened the scoring with his 88th league goal for the club.

But a quadruple substitution by Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler after an hour changed the course of the game, with James Milner, Brajan Gruda, Georginio Rutter and Yasin Ayari entering the fray.

Brighton dominated from there on, equalising from the penalty spot through Milner, before a last-minute winner from Gruda.

"We conceded two goals. We were excellent for one hour," Guardiola told BBC Sport.

"After the goal we forgot to play. We were thinking of the consequences.

"I like many, many things we are doing. Like against Tottenham, we started well. I like many things the team has done here today but we were unable to win. When we conceded the goal, we stopped playing.

"It's one game. The season has just started. There is a long, long season ahead of us. We will see what happens."

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Only Manchester United's 1992-1993 title-winning team have recovered from losing two of their first three league matches to be crowned champions, and that came during a 42-game season.

"It's back to the drawing board for Man City," said former Chelsea and Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

"There are a lot of questions still about this team and Pep Guardiola. Is he going to turn it around? He has never been in a situation quite like this before and the hole keeps getting deeper and deeper."

Shamoon Hafez
Manchester City reporter

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Manchester City have reshaped their squad in this transfer window, spending over £150m on six new signings, as well as seeing the exits of experienced winners Kevin de Bruyne, Kyle Walker and Jack Grealish from the dressing room.

Boss Pep Guardiola has spoken publicly about wanting to work with a smaller squad and it remains to be seen whether he gets his wish before the end of the window.

Sources have told BBC Sport there is interest in Manuel Akanji from Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Galatasaray among others, with City understood to be wanting about £15m for the defender.

With four senior goalkeepers on the books, Stefan Ortega will be allowed to move on and sources close to the player have said they are "looking for solutions".

Will Ederson leave too? If he does, will City have enough time to bring Gianluigi Donnarumma in?

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan may go too if a suitable offer comes in, while there has also been reported interest in defender Nathan Ake.

It might be a busy day at Etihad Stadium.