Man City set for unexpected departure after winning landmark Premier League legal battle

Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is reportedly set to step down at the end of the season.

Begiristain joined City in 2012 and has been a key player in overseeing the club's transformation into an English and European giant.

During his time as City's DoF, the Manchester-based outfit have lifted seven Premier League titles and one Champions League, which they won as part of a league and cup treble two seasons ago.

It's reported by The Athletic that Begiristain will leave City at the end of the current campaign - a decision that has the full blessing of the City hierarchy.

The report suggests the 60-year-old had planned to step back five years ago when he turned 55 but was so invested in the City project he decided to stay on even longer.

However, having entered his sixties back in August, Begiristain has since decided now is the perfect time to leave the club.

City are already believed, according to the report, to have reached an agreement with Begiristain's replacement.

It's claimed his successor will begin their role as City's director of football early in 2025, with Begiristain set to stay on for six months in order to help oversee the transition.

Begiristain could be one of several key exits at City next summer, with Pep Guardiola's future still up in the air.

The Catalan coach is out of contract at the end of the term and while the City bosses are hellbent on keeping him at the Etihad Stadium, a decision on his future hasn't yet been made.

But Guardiola has previously heralded the work of his compatriot, even citing him as a reason for extending his own contract in the past.

Speaking to the official club website in 2021, Guardiola said: “One of the reasons I extended my contract two times is because Txiki is here.

“We work together incredibly well. When we win, we try to analyse why. When we lose we try to analyse why. We don’t judge the other one. We both work for the best for this club.

“Above all that, he is the most humble person I ever met. He never goes to the media. Always, the success is for the other ones. He is always behind the scenes...

“That’s why it’s a pleasure working with him because I can do my job completely free, accepting the good moments and the bad moments and sharing together."

It comes just over 24 hours since the Blues scored a landmark decision against the Premier League regarding its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules.

An independent commission found sections of the rules were deemed unlawful - a decision that could have huge ramifications for the rest of the league.

All 20 clubs are said to have been invited to an emergency meeting next week to discuss the APT ruling.