“We let him go for only £50M, and now he’s ranked higher than all our players in the Ballon d’Or standings, including Rodri,” Pep Guardiola laments, expressing regret over selling his “world-class” talent for a mere £50M—only to see him outperform their own star player in the prestigious award rankings.

“Letting Him Go Was a Huge Mistake!” – Pep Guardiola Admits Regret Over £50M Transfer as Former Player Surpasses Man City Stars in Ballon d’Or Rankings

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is known for his sharp eye in squad management, but even he has admitted that one particular transfer decision continues to haunt him. In a surprising confession, Guardiola acknowledged that allowing a key player to leave for just £50M was a significant miscalculation—especially now that the player has ranked higher than all of City’s stars, including Rodri, in the latest Ballon d’Or standings.

Guardiola, a master of tactical planning and player development, rarely misjudges transfers. However, this time, he appears to have underestimated the immense potential of a player who has since flourished into a global superstar. Reflecting on the decision, Guardiola reportedly admitted:

“We let him leave for just £50M, and now he’s ranked above all of our players in the Ballon d’Or, including Rodri! Selling him was a huge mistake!”

A Transfer That Manchester City Fans Now Regret

At the time of the sale, City believed they were making a smart business decision, confident that their squad depth would compensate for his departure. However, another manager saw the true potential in him and gave him the platform to excel. Since then, he has emerged as a world-class talent, proving that City may have let a generational player slip through their fingers.

His outstanding performances have not only propelled his club to new heights but have also drawn worldwide recognition, earning him a higher Ballon d’Or ranking than Rodri. This revelation has sparked frustration among City supporters, many of whom are now questioning the club’s judgment in allowing him to leave so easily.

A Costly Error for Guardiola?

For a manager who has constructed one of football’s most dominant teams, this transfer may go down as one of his biggest missteps. While City continues to assert their dominance domestically, seeing a former player shine brighter on the global stage is a tough reality to accept.

The lingering question now is—will Guardiola and Manchester City make such a costly transfer mistake again?