Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has highlighted the vast spending by Chelsea since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital's takeover. He suggests that if his team matched Chelsea's spending spree, he would be under immense scrutiny. Manchester City's financial activities have been under the microscope since Sheikh Mansour of Abu Dhabi's acquisition in 2008.
The Premier League has levied 115 charges against Manchester City over alleged financial misconduct. Since Boehly's takeover in May 2022, Chelsea has splashed out more than $1 billion solely on player acquisitions.
In a candid conversation with the media, Guardiola stated, "I couldn't sit here if we spent what Chelsea spent in the last two transfer windows - you would kill me." He emphasized that City will always strive to strike a balance between the market dynamics and the club's evaluation of a fair price. He added, "We have to see what happens in the market and if we can do it and to pay what we believe is fair... In the end, we will pay what is fair to do it. Otherwise, we have the academy."
Highlighting recent transfers, Manchester City secured the talents of defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic for fees rumoured to be 90 million euros ($97.79 million) and 25 million pounds ($32 million), respectively.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has been aggressive in the transfer market, having acquired eight players. Their latest acquisitions include midfielder Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, the latter potentially setting a British transfer fee record of 115 million pounds.
Guardiola clarified his stance, saying, "I don't criticise Chelsea for one second," but he emphasized the double standards at play, remarking, "I'm saying, if we do it, we're dead, all around the world. They can do what they want."
Drawing attention to Chelsea's capacity to spend big, Guardiola mentioned, "If they want to spend, I don't know, 900 million pounds since (Boehly) arrived, 900 more, 900 more - they have it. The business is the business. They sell a lot this season so they can do it."
As Manchester City moves forward, they kicked off their Premier League title defence with a convincing 3-0 triumph over Burnley. The team will square off against Newcastle United this Saturday.
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