Txiki Begiristain: Manchester City director of football set to leave in the summer

Manchester City’s football director, Txiki Begiristain, is expected to depart from the club after the current season concludes.

The 60-year-old Spaniard became part of City in 2012 and played a key role in attracting Pep Guardiola to the team as coach four years after that.

Begiristain used to play alongside Guardiola at Barcelona and also represented the Spanish national team together.

While serving as Barca's director of football, he played a key role in Guardiola's appointment as manager in 2008, even though he departed from the club two years after that.

Guardiola has consistently commended him for the efforts he's put in behind the scenes in City's recruitment process.

According to sources speaking to BBC Sport, this season will mark his final year with the club.

This update arrives as Guardiola approaches the last few months of his existing contract.

When asked about his circumstances on Friday ahead of his team's 3-2 victory against Fulham, Guardiola responded: "I mentioned at the start of the season that I wouldn't discuss this topic. Whatever happens, happens."

With Begiristain, Guardiola, and CEO Ferran Soriano collaborating closely, City has established itself as the leading power in English football, claiming six out of the last seven Premier League championships.

Their recent streak of four consecutive victories sets a new record in English football, and in 2023, they achieved the remarkable feat of becoming only the second English team to secure the Treble, having won the Champions League for the first time.

This announcement comes during a week when a decision was reached in Manchester City's legal battle with the Premier League regarding the league's regulations on commercial agreements involving club owners. Both parties are asserting that they emerged victorious.

This situation is not directly connected to the disciplinary investigation by the Premier League, which is currently looking into 115 allegations against City for supposedly violating financial rules, some of which go back to 2009.