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Premier League record flop Hugo Viana joining Man City to work with Pep Guardiola

Manchester City are set to name Premier League record flop Hugo Viana as their new director of football with Pep Guardiola's close friend Txiki Begiristain leaving

[Pep Guardiola]

Pep Guardiola will have a new director of football at Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)

Premier League record flop Hugo Viana is set to join Manchester City as their new director of football.

Viana, 41, is currently the director of football at Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon - where he has built an impressive reputation. Viana, who flopped at Newcastle as a player, has been in charge of Sporting's recruitment since 2018.

And he could start as soon as early 2025, according to the Manchester Evening News, allowing him to work with Txiki Begiristain before the former Barcelona supremo leaves at the end of the 2024/25 season.

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Begiristain was a key part of the boardroom at City, and he has been repeatedly praised by Guardiola for the work he has done behind the scenes with City's recruitment.

The Catalan wants to give a handover as smooth as possible before he departs - but official confirmation has not yet been communicated by the club.

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Txiki Begiristain is leaving Manchester City(Image: GETTY)

As a player, Viana put pen-to-paper on an 8.5million deal with Newcastle - becoming a record for the Magpies for a teenager by surpassing the 5million paid to Nottingham Forest for England under-21 international Jermaine Jenas.

The transfer was also a record for a player of his age, breaking the 1999 record held by Robbie Keane. It marked the first major deal between Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes and an English club.

However, he struggled in the North East, failing to oust Gary Speed from the starting side - leaving for Valenica in 2006.

[Hugo Viana, Director of Football of Sporting CP looks on ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Manchester City and Sporting CP at City of Manchester Stadium on March 09, 2022 in Manchester, England.]

Hugo Viana is set to land the role(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)

During his time at his current role, Viana has been credited with bringing Viktor Gyokeres, a striker signed from Coventry City who is rivalling Erling Haaland for goals in the calendar year, to Portugal.

While City also paid 52m, to Wolves, for former Sporting midfielder Matheus Nunes and United paid 47m to sign Bruno Fernandes.

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