5 Best signings made by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City | Premier League 2019-20

Manchester City celebrating their 2018/19 title win
Manchester City celebrating their 2018/19 title win

#3 Rodri | Atletico Madrid | €70m

Rodri has had an excellent debut campaign at the Etihad
Rodri has had an excellent debut campaign at the Etihad

Defensive midfield was a bit of a problem area heading into the transfer window for City. This isn't due to the performance levels of club legend Fernandinho, but due to the lack of an able deputy for him. With the Brazilian having turned 34 at the end of last season, the Cityzens turned to Spanish anchorman Rodri. So far, he's had a superb impact at the Etihad Stadium since his €70m move.

The 24-year-old has taken to Premier League football with relative ease, and has made the lone defensive midfield role his own with composure and cultured passing. Rodri has started 29 matches in the 2019/20 campaign and averaged 74 passes per game at an impressive 93% accuracy. He has been caught off guard on a few occasions, but is likely to keep getting better under the tutelage of Guardiola.

The Catalan himself is admittedly a huge fan of Rodri. Speaking upon his arrival at the club, the 49-year-old said;

"[Rodri] is a Spain national team player, and there they call him 'the next [Sergio] Busquets.' I think he is a very good player. He is a young, typical defensive midfielder who thinks very quickly. I hope he is here for a long time."

A Pep Guardiola team was always likely to be in the running for a player dubbed to be the next Sergio Busquets — and that is precisely what happened. He's been a remarkable acquisition so far.


#2 Ederson Moraes | SL Benfica | €40m

2019/20 Golden Glove winner Ederson Moraes
2019/20 Golden Glove winner Ederson Moraes

City legend Joe Hart's future at the club was in doubt since the moment Guardiola's move to City was announced. The former Barcelona coach's reliance on keepers who are comfortable playing the ball out of the back is well-documented. After his €18m gamble on Claudio Bravo failed, he needed a new keeper, and in came Ederson Moraes for €40m.

The Brazilian's arrival changed the dynamic of City's patient build-up play from the back. Ederson has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, particularly with the ball at his feet, at City.

Guardiola has ensured to maximise Ederson's penchant for playing defence-splitting passes from his own half. On many occasions, the 26-year-old has even acted as an auxiliary centre-half, perfecting the sweeper-keeper role to near perfection. 'Near' is the most operative word in this context, though, as his rush of blood has also cost City dearly on a handful occasions in hindsight.

However, on an overarching note, Ederson is comfortably one of Guardiola's best signings at City if not the best. He's racked up 142 appearances all competitions, conceding 107 goals and keeping 69 clean sheets. Ederson also won the 2019/20 Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets.


#1 Aymeric Laporte | Athletic Bilbao | €65m

Laporte has been one of City's most successful signings in recent times
Laporte has been one of City's most successful signings in recent times

Centre-half was one of the few problematic areas for City despite their lavish expenditure. Regardless of their spending, they were left with a soon-to-depart Vincent Kompany, an out-of-sorts John Stones and Elaquim Mangala, and Nicolas Otamendi. City then paid a then-club-record fee of €65m in the winter of 2018 to secure the services of Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao.

The Frenchman has fixed what has arguably been City's most suspect zone of the pitch. Laporte, a multi-faceted centre-back, has all the tools that a manager like Guardiola looks for in his defenders. He was an immovable rock at the back en route City's 2018/19 title win as they conceded just 23 goals in 38 games — only one more than the Virgil van Dijk-led Liverpool defence. Laporte started 34 of those 38 games, averaging a whopping 83 passes per 90, the most of any defender in the league.

His combination of a powerful physique, elegance on the ball and ability to carry it higher up the pitch with ease make him an exquisite player. On his day, Laporte is arguably only bested in England by Van Dijk, who considered by many as the best defender in the world.

The left-footed Frenchman has struggled with several injury issues this year, starting only 14 games in the league. City struggled in his absence and conceded 12 goals more than they did last year. Remarkably, they've conceded just six goals in Laporte's 15 league appearances this year, keeping 11 clean sheets. He is undoubtedly Guardiola's most important signing at the Etihad, and will only keep getting better.


Also read: Premier League 2019-20 Golden Boot, Golden Glove, and Playmaker Award winners for the season

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Edited by Sai Teja