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Kieran Maguire: Man City to match Chelsea as £51m news confirmed
Man City have emulated Chelsea’s academy system and are now beginning to reap the reward of their youth investment.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that City’s investment in education and academy facilities is helping them overtake Manchester United when it comes to attractive talent.
City have made £51million this summer from selling academy players with James Trafford completing a £19million move to Burnley, Shea Charles joining Southampton for £15million and Carlos Borges moving to Ajax for £17million.
Pep Guardiola’s side also made profits from academy stars last summer, with Southampton in particular investing in young players emerging from City’s academy.
Academy sales have helped to balance City’s net spend, with Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic arriving as new signings this summer.
Maguire believes City have looked at Chelsea’s success from selling academy players and looked to replicate their system.
“City used to very much be second best in the Manchester area when it came to attracting talent,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“But Manchester City have now given young kids a pathway by also committing to educational opportunities.
“Their academy kids go to a very prestigious school, and City clearly think the investment is worth it as it makes them more attractive to parents.
“Those rough diamonds that come to City are now very sellable assets and it’s a horrible word to use when we’re talking about kids who are still in their teens.
“But the four players that were sold to Southampton last year and other movements in the academy allow City to replicate what we’ve seen in the south of England with Chelsea.
“Chelsea have used their academy extremely well and that‘s why they have made more profits from player sales compared to other teams in the big six.
“City have seen how that works and decided to adopt that model themselves, and now they’re starting to reap the rewards.“
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