Pep Guardiola defends Man City transfer plans amid Real Madrid example

Pep Guardiola has no issue with Manchester City's ageing squad if they can emulate the golden oldies of Real Madrid.

City's manager has signed a two-year extension to commit him to the club until the summer of 2027, and there is an expectation that he will lead a rebuilding of the side that have won six Premier League titles in seven years. Txiki Begiristain will be in charge until the end of this season, when Hugo Viana will join permanently from Sporting with big shoes to fill.

Guardiola staying mitigates the loss of Begiristain to keep stability in the club, although he has hinted at major changes in the playing squad. The coach also brought up in his first press conference since agreeing a new deal that there are 12 stars in what is a small squad who are over 30.

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City's boss insists that age need not be a problem for his stars if they can prove to be good enough, as Real proved in the 2021/22 season when they won the league and Champions League with a trio of midfielders in their 30s. However, just as Guardiola does not want to stay at the Etihad because of his past achievements he needs his ageing players to show why they deserve to be part of the future.

"There is a season when you buy five players, and seasons like this season when you buy one and bring Gundogan back. When everyone is fit, I think I don’t need anyone.

"I think the squad is exceptional. But we have recently had a lot of problems. But today in modern football you can’t bring in seven players for seven players. It's not the right way. For one, two or three…Txiki will help us until the last moment and Hugo is going to help us afterwards.

"It depends on how the [players over 30] perform, do you know how good they can be? I saw Real Madrid with Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Modric win the championship and Champions League and play every three days.

"It's not about that. Players who are 33, 34,35 can play all the season and play incredibly well and help the team. You have experience, you have something the young players cannot have.

"You cannot have just young players. You have to have a mix and we have a mix. There are nine or 10 who are 21/22: Josko, Erling, Phil, Rico, Oscar, Macca, Jeremy, Savinho… we have a lot of incredible top young players.

"Those who are around 30 are still at the perfect age. What will decide is if we win or we lose, we are up there or at the bottom. The club will take decisions on the manager and the players. We have to win for our future and we have to perform well to stay here."