“It surprised me” – Former Manchester City manager believes summer transfer mistake has been made | OneFootball

Hugo Viana and Manchester City’s decision makers have already made a transfer mistake this summer, according to one of the club’s former managers.

While City have only just returned to pre-season training this week, some departures are already generating regret in certain corners of the football world, specifically the decision to allow former club captain Kyle Walker to depart.

The exit of the veteran England international has been viewed as surprising by a few, not least former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce, who believes the 35-year-old’s influence and skill set remain of elite standard.

Walker left Manchester City earlier this summer to join Scott Parker’s newly-promoted Burnley ahead of their return to the Premier League, in what has been widely regarded as a shrewd coup for the Turf Moor club.

The move brought an end to a decorated eight-season spell at the Etihad Stadium, during which he played a pivotal role in Manchester City’s sustained domestic and European dominance, including their historic treble in 2022/23 and UEFA Champions League triumph.

Despite his age, Walker remained a regular starter under Pep Guardiola last season up until his exit on loan to AC Milan in the January market, while his exit was seen by some as a reflection of both his contract situation and City’s shifting focus on age profiles. However, the lack of a direct replacement has raised eyebrows.

Speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, former Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce believes his old club may have made a mistake in letting go of last season’s club captain and their long-standing first-choice right-back this summer.

“The beauty of Kyle Walker, if you’re doing a direct comparison, Kyle could defend one-on-one, and he was nigh-on impossible to get past,” Pearce said, before discussing City’s other reported right-back targets this summer.

“[Tino] Livramento’s good going forward; I’m not sure defensively that he’s got the nous of Kyle Walker. I worked with Kyle as a young man; he matured, got better and better and understood the game the older he got.

“[Livramento and Daniel Munoz] are not, for me, out-and-out, top-quality defensive right-backs that can offer something going forward as well, like Kyle Walker did. It’s very difficult to replace someone like Kyle Walker.”

Pearce insisted that he would have retained the services of Kyle Walker for longer than City did, as he continued, “I’d have held on to Kyle for at least another year. Very athletic, even at his age.

“It surprised me a little that he went to Burnley, but it’s brilliant recruitment from them. But I don’t see any of them [Manchester City’s reported right-back targets] as real top-quality right-backs to go on and be good enough and strong enough to win the Champions League with.”

Pearce added, “From the outside, I still feel as though Kyle Walker has probably got something to offer. But I don’t know how much they’re juggling the financial bill, these wages, moving them on.

“All of those things come into practice, and they’ve got arguably the best manager in the world there, so if he makes a decision, none of us can argue against it.”

Manchester City have been linked with several right-sided defenders this summer, including Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, Crystal Palace’s Daniel Muñoz, and other longer-term options across Europe.

However, no deal has yet been concluded, and the club now appear to be weighing up whether a short-term solution from within the squad may bridge the gap. Walker’s departure leaves a potential void in terms of experience, leadership, and tactical versatility, and while Guardiola has often proven capable of successfully adapting his tactical setup to new personnel, speculation is likely to continue until a suitable replacement is brought in.

With the summer transfer window still open and Hugo Viana spearheading squad restructuring talks, further developments in the right-back department remain on the cards. However, it remains to be seen whether that sees the arrival of a new face or greater faith placed in existing talent such as Matheus Nunes or Rico Lewis.