Hugo Viana update after Sporting announce early exit ahead of Manchester City switch | OneFootball

Manchester City will not be welcoming Hugo Viana officially into his new role any earlier than agreed, despite the 42-year-old leaving Sporting this week.

The Portuguese official has already been confirmed as Manchester City’s next Director of Football, after it was announced during the final months of 2024 that after 12 seasons in the role, Txiki Begiristain would be leaving the Etihad Stadium.

The 60-year-old has been integral to the success seen by the Premier League champions, and is widely regarded as being instrumental in the pursuit of Pep Guardiola and bringing the legendary former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach to the club in 2016.

Having constructed some of the greatest squads in English football history, overseeing multiple squad rebuilds and securing some of the best deals in the game, Txiki Begiristain will be part-charged with the overhaul of an existing ageing team which began in January.

However, as part of the work undertaken by Begiristain and Manchester City, Hugo Viana was spotted in Manchester city centre alongside his soon-to-be predecessor during the January transfer market, with a development on his status in Portugal having now arrived.

Sporting CP announced in a club statement earlier this week that, after a request made by the 42-year-old himself, Viana would be bringing an end to his time in the Portuguese capital with immediate effect and earlier than the originally agreed date.

Now, according to the information of the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski, Viana is not expected to bring forward his start date at Manchester City, despite officially leaving Sporting CP this week.

It is pointed out that City’s existing Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain will still be leading the club’s recruitment until after the summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, while Viana is likely be seen more at the Etihad Stadium and in Manchester over the coming months.

It remains to be seen who Manchester City could turn to next in the transfer market, having already added four new names into their first-team squad during the winter window at a cost of over €200 million.

Txiki Begiristain managed to secure two new defensive talents in Abudkodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, both of whom are seen as versatile options at the back, while Omar Marmoush bolstering the forward line was followed by Nico Gonzalez joining midfield.

Manchester City supporters could get their first opportunity at seeing Reis and Gonzalez in action as soon as this weekend, when the Premier League giants travel to League One side Leyton Orient in the fourth round of the FA Cup.