Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, is reportedly planning a significant reshuffle of his squad for the upcoming Club World Cup. With the expanded tournament format and a grueling schedule ahead, Guardiola aims to utilize the full depth of his squad, giving opportunities to both new signings and returning players.
After their initial match against Wydad AC, Guardiola hinted at extensive changes, stating that he intended to field "ten new players" in the subsequent game against Al Ain. This indicates a clear strategy to manage player fitness and integrate new additions into the team. The Club World Cup, while a prestigious competition, also serves as a crucial pre-season for European clubs, and Guardiola is keen to balance the desire to win with the need to prepare his squad for the Premier League season ahead.
City have been proactive in the transfer market, securing the services of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan for $55 million, French midfielder Rayan Cherki from Olympique Lyon for $40 million, and Algerian left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for $37 million. Veteran English goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli has also joined on a free transfer from Chelsea. These new signings are expected to play significant roles in the Club World Cup, providing Guardiola with fresh options and competition for places. All four new signings will travel as part of the squad.
The decision to bring in these players reflects City's ambition to win the Club World Cup and build a squad capable of sustained success. Sporting director Hugo Viana and club president Khaldoon Al Mubarak have made it clear that winning the tournament is a top priority, and the new signings are seen as key reinforcements to achieve that goal.
However, not all players will feature prominently in the tournament. Jack Grealish has been left out of the squad. Kevin De Bruyne is also not named in the squad, and is reportedly close to joining Napoli. James McAtee is another notable absentee, as he chose to represent England at the Under-21 European Championship. Mateo Kovacic is currently sidelined with injury.
Despite these absentees, Guardiola has a wealth of talent at his disposal. Players like Rodri and Erling Haaland, who are recovering from injuries, are expected to gradually increase their playing time throughout the tournament. Young players like Nico O'Reilly and new signings Reijnders and Cherki have already impressed in their first appearances, demonstrating the depth and potential of the City squad.
Guardiola's approach to the Club World Cup reflects his commitment to using every player in his squad. With a demanding schedule and the need to integrate new signings, the tournament provides an ideal opportunity to assess his options and fine-tune his team for the challenges ahead. While winning the Club World Cup is undoubtedly a priority, Guardiola is also focused on building a cohesive and competitive squad that can compete for trophies on all fronts.
