In a recent interview, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco appeared to take a subtle jab at Manchester City over their hefty £180 million spending spree during the January transfer window.

City, aiming to bolster their struggling squad, brought in four new players: Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, and Nico Gonzalez.

City’s Expensive Winter Transfer Strategy

Manchester City’s heavy investment came after a less-than-ideal start to the season, and Pep Guardiola pointed to the club’s positive net spend over the last five years as the reason they were now able to open the financial floodgates.

Guardiola also hinted at further changes in the summer, with plans to continue refreshing his squad.

Deco’s Response to City’s Spending

However, Deco, who had a legendary career at Barcelona, seemed to suggest that City’s approach was a bit too much.

Speaking to Catalan station TV3, Deco said, “Manchester City spent more than €200m in January. We can’t afford it, today. But we don’t need to bring three or four players either.

They need a renewal of their squad. We’ve already done it.

We signed players three years ago, and the youngsters have established themselves.”

Barcelona’s Financial Struggles Compared to City’s Spending

Barcelona’s financial challenges have been well-documented in recent years, with strict La Liga financial regulations limiting the club’s spending power.

The Catalan giants have had to maneuver carefully to register new players, most recently managing to re-register Dani Olmo after a controversial injunction allowed them to do so.

City’s Financial Outlay and Struggles on the Pitch

Despite their significant winter investments, Manchester City’s form has been far from ideal this season.

They are currently trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 15 points and were forced to enter the Champions League play-off round after a disappointing start.

In a recent blow, City lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off at home.

While both clubs are in very different financial situations, it’s clear that the contrast between City’s major transfer outlay and Barcelona’s more conservative approach is a point of contention in the football world.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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