This summer's transfer window, perhaps more than any other in recent years, there is one true Manchester City has to put their business place on.
After a period of unparalleled success under Pep Guardiola, the 2024/25 campaign saw the wheels come from the Stadjuggernaut spectacularly.
An injury to target machine, Erling Haaland, despite that, too much of the team of the first team seemed difficult in their game.
The bad season of Man City meant that changes were needed
Although at the end of the season a mini-revival ensured that the city closed the Champions League of next season, the truth is that they were a pace most of the campiagn.
For example, a previously unbeatable Kyle Walker seemed to have lost a meter of pace and so it was little surprise to see him borrowing AC Milan halfway through the season.
Jack Grealishe only succeeded in one goal and one assist in 20 games, and seems to be omitted outside the City's Club World Cup team. That certainly means the end of his time at the club and maybe a loan movement is on the cards.
Jack Grealisk 2024/25 Statsflash score
Kevin De Bruyne Sprong before he was pushed
Kevin De Bruyne may also not reach the heights that we are going to expect, and after previous speculation about his future, the Belgian decided that the time was ripe to end his association with the club at the end of the campaign.
A hamstring injury at the start of the season did not help his search for full fitness, although his figures are still getting up despite the fact that he only made 22 starts in all competitions.
Six goals are two more than he succeeded in 2023/24, but his eight assists are exactly half of the 16 of last season.
His passing accuracy of 83% was just shy for his best return of the past seven seasons – 86.5% of the FA Cup Run 2019/20.
However, it was inevitable that when he started approaching his 34th birthday, his influence would start to take. Instead of waiting for him to be pushed, De Bruyne did the decent thing and made the decision itself.
Tijjani Reijnders set to replace De Bruyne
In addition, he ensured that City should work hard and quickly to find a suitable replacement, and it seems that the brilliant Dutchman of AC Milan, Tijjani Reijners, is that man.
Just like with the Guardiola side, the Rossoneri has passed a pretty terrible season, but unlike City, they did not qualify for the Champions League.
Not only that, they did not succeed in not being eligible for a European competition next season and were beaten in the Coppa Italia Final by Bologna, who won their first silverware in 51 years.
Kevin De Bruyne 2024/25 Statsopta perform by statistics
It is clear that players should be sold to balance Milan's balance prior to what is probably a battle during the 2025/26 season.
Losing Reijnders, although expected, could be a blow from where they do not recover, because he was a large radiant light in a team whose spark apparently went out.
His 10 goals and four assists from the central midfield were an amazing return to an under -performance team, and to bring his output to a little more context, no central midfielder scored in the top five European competitions in 24/25.
Only Spits, Christian Pulisic, succeeded in more goals in Milan, so it could be concluded that without the additional presence of Reijnders the Rossoneri might have been worse in terms of their final competition position.
Tijjani Reijnders 2024/25 Statsopta perform by statistics
At 26 the Dutchman approaches his peak as a player, and the box-to-box nature of his natural game will match a tee. In addition to Rodri, Reijnders can play in a double pivot, but will also have a license to start the field and in those positions with which he can dictate the ebb and electricity of the city's attacks.
A player who likes to play on the front foot at all times are 84.4% pass -voltooiation In the last third of the field shows an accuracy that many of his teammates could not match.
It is clear that he likes to move the ball a lot and creative enough to be able to free up colleagues, despite a lack of space to do this in the tighter parts of the field.
Although he has to work on his one-on-one where he won the ball with only 42.8% of the occasions that he challenged an opponent last season, Reijkers' 146 Ball Recovery and 43 interception suggests that he is a player who is not afraid to use his foot when needed.
Reijnders is not a shortage of trust
He is also not a shortage of trust, both in his playing style and in attitude.
“My biggest goal is to win as many trophies as possible, because when I play football, it's to write my name in the history books,” he said recently.
“One day being a balloon d'Or candidate is of course a dream because it means a lot. Everything depends on my performances and the trophies I win.”
If he wants to be seen as the replacement for De Bruyne, he needs more than words to convince the believers of the city and a manager who is as demanding as Guardiola.
The Belgian has long been a real all -rounder and perhaps the most vital gear in the Stadswiel in the past seasons.
It is therefore clear that Reijnders must hit the ground and work on the more defensive aspects of his game to fulfill what he believes that his football dester is.
Pep has a great player in his hands
“If I could play with 11 midfielders, I would do that.” Pep Guardiola has never hidden his preference from what he regards the most important role in modern football, in which every paradigm of the past is destroyed, according to which a good team must have a good defense and a striker that scores when needed, “noted the Raffaele Riverso from FlashScore.
“In the heart of this thought there is the doctrine of his master, Johan Cruyff, the totem of total football, the flying Dutchman. Reijners also comes from the Netherlands and is a player who interprets the role of midfielder in a dynamic and flowing way: 'Totaal', to use a word that Cruyff and Guardiola.
Tijjani Reijnders Ball carries in the Serie A 2024/25Opta through statistics.
“That is a much broader concept than the English 'Box -To -Box' style and the quality of Reijnders who have convinced PEP to bet on him, is not only that it is decisive in both criminal areas, but precisely that of identifying, at any time of the competition, the area of ​​the pitch where he can be the most useful for the team.
“In essence, someone like him could easily be part of that team consisting of 11 midfielders that one day Guardiola would have the courage to field. For the feature philosophy of the Catalan coach, great players are those who make their teammates better.
“Well, with Reijnders, Pep has a great player in his hands.”
If he meets all add-ons that are placed in the deal for his services, the midfielder will not only be the record sale of Milan (currently € 67 million for Kaka's move to Real Madrid), but will turn out to be a bargain of € 70 million for a team that is urgent and harmful and harmful presence.
Jason Pettigroveflash score