Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain will depart his role at the end of the season, talkSPORT understands.
City have already locked in a replacement for Begiristain and this person will begin the role in early 2025.
Begiristain will leave City at the end of the seasonGetty
talkSPORT also understands Begiristain’s exit has been planned for some time.
It is also a decision that could have a larger impact given Pep Guardiola’s contract is up at the end of the season.
The internal expectation at the start of the campaign was it would be Guardiola’s final season at the Etihad Stadium, although City are keen to tie him down to a new deal.
However, with Begiristain, a close friend of Guardiola for decades, departing in May, talkSPORT understands it will be a factor in the City manager’s decision-making process.
Begiristain departs having played a pivotal role behind the scenes in establishing City as one of Europe’s best teams.
During Begiristain’s tenure, City have won seven Premier League titles, two FA Cups, six League Cups, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and a Club World Cup.
City manager Guardiola, who worked closely with the 60-year-old when the two were at Barcelona, spoke of his admiration for Begiristain in January this year.
“Txiki has been massively important at this club,” Guardiola said.
“He was here before I arrived and was stable in the club. He has been really important in these years and part of the enormous success we’ve had in terms of results and many things, he has been so important.
“I do ask him to take responsibility with the media, talk a bit, but he’s so shy. He wants to be behind the scenes so all the shots and the weapons are directed to me. But it was the same in Barcelona.
Begiristain arrived at City in October 2012 having previously worked as Barcelona’s technical director from 2008 to 2010.
News of the 60-year-old’s departure at the end of the season comes amid the backdrop of City’s ongoing legal battle with the Premier League.
City scored a win over the Premier League on Monday when it was ruled the defending champions were unfairly blocked from securing two huge sponsorship deals earlier this year.
Begiristain (far left) will leave City at the end of the season and it could influence Guardiola’s (far right) decision to stay at the clubGetty
The verdict was based on governance that declared commercial deals between clubs and companies related to the club’s ownership must be of fair market value.
City had already launched legal action against the Premier League this year regarding associated party transaction (APT) rules on the basis they were anti-competitive.
The Premier League had previously rejected a sponsorship deal City lined up with Etihad in 2023 along with an agreement with an Abu-Dhabi-based bank.
City are 81 per cent owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
The Premier League champions are bidding for a fifth successive league title having achieved the unprecedented accolade of four successive titles last season.
