Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas reacts to Manchester City swoop on Hugo Viana

Manchester City stated earlier this month that after a 12-year term as Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain

will be leaving the club, potentially marking the first of several major changes at the top of the club’s

hierarchy. The 60-year-old had planned to depart City for several years, but he stayed because he enjoyed

working on the club’s initiative with close friend and colleague Pep Guardiola.

However, his efforts will not be forgotten anytime soon, as Begiristain has secured his successor and has

pledged to collaborating with incoming director Hugo Viana beginning in early 2025 to smooth the transition

to a new name and face starting next summer. Sporting president Frederico Varandas told Portuguese news

outlet Record this week, as translated and conveyed by Sport Witness, that Viana’s departure for Manchester

City is a highly positive reflection on their own organisation and performance.

“It was a critical triangle for the growth and recovery of authentic sport. This is history. It has stayed. It will last

forever. Ruben Amorim and Viana were important to this start,” Varandas stated.

Clearly, Hugo Viana is the talk of the town. Hugo Viana, undoubtedly, and from a personal perspective,

deserves everything. Not just from a professional standpoint, but also from a personal one. He’ll probably be

on par with Real Madrid.

He went on to say, “So, obviously, this is the degree of brilliance that Sporting is known for internationally.

And it is critical for us at Sporting to see Hugo Viana succeed at Manchester City. Very crucial because this is

how we want to be seen internationally.”

It remains to be seen whether Hugo Viana’s and Txiki Begiristain’s changes and movements will affect the

managing situations of Sporting and Manchester City’s present head coaches.

Ruben Amorim’s close relationship with Hugo Viana has led to speculation that he could succeed Pep

Guardiola at Manchester City. Some rumors go so far as to say that the two are ‘like brothers’ in both business

and personal life.

As for Guardiola, there was speculation earlier this year that he and Txiki Begiristain will depart the club at

the same time, with an undetermined date. However, it is now believed that Begiristain’s departure will have

little effect on Guardiola’s thinking.

JUST IN: Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas reacts to Manchester City swoop on Hugo Viana