Guardiola warns Maresca that Man City's squad rebuild may be far from over

Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City’s summer recruitment work may be more extensive than Enzo Maresca currently anticipates, with the outgoing manager cautioning that young players unhappy with their playing time could force the club’s hand in the transfer market.

Guardiola, who left the Etihad after ten years in charge this summer, spoke candidly about the pitfalls of assuming a squad is settled. He drew directly on his own misjudgement in 2024, when he initially told City’s recruitment team that no significant turnover was needed following four consecutive Premier League titles — only to reverse course when it became clear the group was flagging. The club ultimately spent more than £400m over 18 months to revitalise the squad, with City going on to win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup while pushing Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

“I spoke many times with the Man City sporting director, Txiki Begiristain and Hugo Viana, and said, ‘Now we have a young team for the next three or four years’. It’s not true,” Guardiola said. “You don’t know why, but it doesn’t work. A lot of players, young players, don’t play and say, ‘I want to leave. I’m here in cold Manchester, not playing, I want to leave’. And you have to replace those guys.”

Maresca has returned to the club he previously worked at as a coach, and City have already been active in the market. Elliot Anderson has arrived for a club-record £116m, and the club are still seeking a right-back, another midfielder, and a forward before the window closes. Yet Guardiola’s warning suggests the net spend picture could shift if dissatisfied fringe players push for exits.

The Catalan stressed that the quality of recruitment decisions — not just their volume — would ultimately define City’s next cycle. “The big task is how the club, organisation, sporting director, manager, CEO, hierarchy recruit the right players you need,” he said. “Everyone makes mistakes, but make as few as possible. That’s the key point.”

Maresca inherits a squad that delivered silverware last season, but Guardiola’s candour underlines that even a well-stocked City dressing room can unravel quickly if the wrong players are retained or the right ones are allowed to leave.