Pep Guardiola has aimed a pointed remark at Arsenal and their other rivals for their summer spending, noting that City has long been accused of being the club that spends the most. The discussion revolves around figures reported for the current window and the context of recent seasons, with attention to how rival clubs have approached their own recruitment.
This summer, Arsenal has spent almost €300 million to improve its squad, with Liverpool spending as much as €340 million, while Chelsea has also invested €280 million into their squad. Manchester City has spent money this summer as well, but not as much as their rivals, with around €177 million worth of players joining them. However, while in crisis in the middle of last season, the Citizens spent around £130 million on new players. These figures form the backdrop to Guardiola’s comments and the ongoing debate about the balance between investment, performance, and scrutiny.
Guardiola’s central point is that rivals have shown they can also spend significant sums, even though his team has often been criticised for how they have splashed the cash in the past. The comparison suggests a wider pattern in which several leading clubs pursue ambitious transfer strategies, each seeking competitive advantage through recruitment while operating within the relevant financial framework.
He said, as quoted by Goal:
“I don’t know, but the clubs spend with the strict financial rules [of PSR] and they will only spend if they can do it. Apparently It’s not just Manchester City [who are spending]. Everyone does what they believe is the best for the team. I know our net spend for the last 10-11 years is amazing. You don’t spend if you don’t sell. We have been really good, that’s why they’re sustainable.”
The emphasis in that statement is on compliance, sustainability, and the relationship between spending and sales, with the suggestion that prudent trading supports long term stability. It also underlines the idea that multiple clubs are now engaging in significant investment, which spreads the conversation about transfer spending beyond a single team.
We have spent some good money this summer, and people will expect us to achieve some success, which should not be a problem for this team.
