Begiristain’s contract strategy shows Man City are ready for Pep Guardiola exit

If Manchester City fans thought the club were quiet in January, Txiki Begiristain has emphatically proven that theory wrong this week.

Julian Alvarez signed on deadline day for around £14m, and Joao Cancelo’s new contract was confirmed a day later, tying him to City until 2027.

James McAtee followed on Wednesday with a three-year extension of his own to 2026, ending various rumours about his future; while under-23 regulars Josh Wilson-Esbrand and Oscar Bobb were the latest to commit to the club on Thursday as they signed deals until 2027 and 2026 respectively.

As is the norm, it is Begiristain rather than Pep Guardiola on the signing photos, as transfers and contracts are firmly his area of expertise.

In the space of four days, City’s number of contracted professionals for 2025/26 and the following season has risen from nine to 13. Of those, seven are on deals until 2027, with reports that players including Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden could follow with new deals soon.

City may not have bolstered their squad for the rest of the current season, but they have ensured the long-term planning for the next four years continues, with plenty of faith shown in their talented youngsters as well as their world-class first-teamers. For the first time, there is enough quality coming from the academy to justify such long-term deals.

It was telling that both Cancelo and McAtee cited the influence of Guardiola in extending their stays at the club.

Cancelo said: “City players have everything they need to reach their full potential, with amazing facilities, world-class teammates and an incredible manager who pushes us every single day.

“There is nowhere better to play football and it’s a pleasure to work here. I have so much I want to achieve before my career ends, and Manchester City offers me the best chance of fulfilling my ambitions.

While McAtee noted: “I have worked with some brilliant coaches in the Academy, who have put me in a position to be able to train and play with Pep Guardiola and the first team, which is all I’ve ever wanted to do.

“I’ve been really pleased with my progress this season and I am sure I am in the right place to keep improving so it feels amazing to know I will be a Manchester City player for another four years.”

It’s clear that Guardiola is a unique selling point to current City players as well as prospective ones. His track record is proven, and his ability to revitalise a squad and regenerate his tactics always evolving to new heights.

For the youngsters, Guardiola has shown that chances will be there if they prove to be good enough, and his policy of allowing a handful of academy stars to train regularly with the first team is proving enough encouragement for those youngsters to stay, surely making money down the line.

There is one problem, though. Guardiola is currently only contracted for another 18 months. These players have committed to up to two-and-a-half years without knowing who the manager will be. If Guardiola does leave next summer, the task of succeeding him won’t be easy, even if the next manager inherits one of the best squads in the world.

Guardiola has remained tight-lipped about his future, suggesting any new deal is up to the club, but he vowed not to ‘betray’ them when it comes to making any decisions on his next step. He has not ruled out staying beyond 2023, and has a strong enough relationship with Begiristain, Ferran Sorriano and Khaldoon Al Mubarak to not rush into any talks.

That is a healthy relationship that ultimately benefits City, but for decision-makers like Begiristain, it leaves a difficult middle ground to find. He has to plan for life without Guardiola, while also preparing a squad that would entice him to stay — all while trying to sell a long-term project to players.

Luckily, there’s a lot of overlap in those two objectives, with the key to succeeding in either area signing up City’s best players of the present and future to long-term deals.

He must also ensure the squad is strong enough for whoever is manager in 2023/24 and beyond to build upon the good work done over the last six seasons. Whether that is Guardiola or not, City know they’ll have to change manager at some point and the challenge will be to ensure there is not too much disruption when that happens.

Alternatively, if Guardiola stays even longer, he has a squad built in his image, with a focus on home-grown, talented youngsters coming through. By rewarding the likes of McAtee, Bobb, Wilson-Esbrand — and Cole Palmer or Liam Delap before them — City are also sending a message to their senior stars that their places are by no means guaranteed.

It’s win-win for City, with a legacy being created of a fully-functioning academy creating viable first-team options, as well as the world-class squad able to attract the best players.

City know they must start planning for life after Guardiola, and that’s what they’re doing. If the same planning persuades the boss to stay on a little longer, there won’t be any complaints from anyone at the Etihad.

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