Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has signaled his intention to trim down the squad ahead of the summer transfer window deadline. The decision is driven by a desire to avoid discontent among players who may become frustrated due to limited playing time.
The club has taken 27 players to the United States for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, including new signings such as Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Marcus Bettinelli.
Mateo Kovacic was expected to be part of the traveling squad, but an Achilles injury has ruled him out of the tournament. Meanwhile, notable names such as Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, and James McAtee have been left out of the tour.
Guardiola, who previously warned he might step down if forced to work with an oversized squad, has once again suggested that some players will need to depart.
"I would love to keep all the players we currently have throughout the season," said Guardiola. "I truly appreciate them. I have no complaints about their behavior or professionalism."
"The issue is that some of them won’t be happy over the course of the season. They’ll be disappointed, they’ll be frustrated and I don’t want that to happen," he added.
Known for preferring a lean squad, Guardiola typically works with around 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers. This means at least three members of the current squad in the U.S. may need to move on before the Premier League kicks off in August.
"It’s not a problem for me to have options," Guardiola continued. "But I don’t like having six or seven players sitting at home simply because no one is injured and there’s no space for them."
"I’m doing this for their sake. That’s why we need to assess the situation. There is still plenty of time before the transfer window closes," he concluded.
