Manchester City’s recently-departed sporting director Txiki Begiristain has named his best signing for the Etihad Stadium club over a 13-year career with the side.
The Spaniard’s tenure transformed City into one of the most formidable forces in world football, overseeing a recruitment drive that landed some of the biggest names in the game over the course of the last decade.
From Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliance to the record-breaking arrival of Erling Haaland, Begiristain was behind a transfer strategy that helped deliver multiple Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, and unprecedented domestic dominance.
Yet for all the glamour of high-profile deals, Begiristain has often spoken about the importance of balance, leadership, and character in shaping a squad capable of long-term success, with this philosophy making him a trusted figure alongside Pep Guardiola and CEO Ferran Soriano.
His decisions stretched beyond short-term impact, ensuring the squad’s spine remained strong throughout cycles of change. Now, following his departure and the succession of Hugo Viana, Begiristain’s reflections on his best piece of business offer a fascinating insight into what he valued most across his reign.
Speaking as part of the club’s in-house documentary ‘A Farewell to Txiki‘, Begiristain was asked by the club’s CEO during a sit-down meeting involving Pep Guardiola which of his many signings over the years he deems to be the best piece of business.
“For me, Fernandinho is right up there,” the Spaniard said, with the Brazilian establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s finest midfielders despite only arriving in the division at the age of 28.
CEO Ferran Soriano responded, “It was a huge gamble. A guy playing in Ukraine – remember? And it was your decision!”
Fernandinho’s importance to Manchester City cannot be understated. Signed from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, he became the anchor of Pep Guardiola’s system, setting the tempo and providing balance in midfield.
His leadership extended beyond the pitch, captaining the side in later years and becoming a trusted figure within the dressing room. His longevity, consistency, and professionalism embodied the type of player Begiristain and City’s hierarchy sought to build around.
Looking forward, the naming of Fernandinho as the standout signing offers clues into how Hugo Viana may seek to follow Begiristain’s model. With City having saved more than £40 million annually in wages following the exits of senior figures this summer, the focus could once again fall on securing leaders and dependable characters.
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