Manchester City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, was seen sharing a warm moment with his successor in Lisbon this week, hinting at a smooth transition in leadership at the Etihad.
City’s first team and youth squads were in Lisbon for matches in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Youth League, though both teams faced disappointing losses. The senior side fell 4-1 to Ruben Amorim’s Sporting CP, with goals from Maximiliano Araujo and a hat-trick by Viktor Gyokeres, marking City’s third consecutive defeat. Meanwhile, the under-19s lost 2-0 against Sporting’s youth team, with Gabriel Silva and Denilson Santos on the scoresheet and Max Alleyne receiving a red card.
During the UEFA Youth League game, photographers captured a notable moment between City’s current and future football directors. Begiristain attended the youth match at Alcochete, where he connected with Hugo Viana, who is set to take over as City’s new director of football in 2025. The two shared a hug and a few words on the sidelines, symbolizing the continuity planned for City’s operations.
While Viana’s official start date remains unconfirmed, he is expected to go through a transitional period at the club before fully stepping into his role next summer. This change in leadership isn’t tied to Pep Guardiola’s future at City, as the manager continues to consider his options for renewing his contract, which also ends next summer.
