City’s Sheikh-shake: The Top 10 Transfer Flops at Manchester City

Following Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s 2008 acquisition of Manchester City, the club has seen a striking transformation. They have moved from being a mid-table team to becoming one of the most powerful forces in European football. Their numerous Premier League titles and strong showing in continental competitions highlight this evolution. However, along with their triumphs, Manchester City has also had a number of significant transfer failures.

These missteps have ranged from high-profile signings who failed to meet expectations to players who struggled with injuries or failed to adapt to the demands of the Premier League. In this article, we will delve into the ten worst transfers made by Manchester City during the Sheikh era, examining the impact these signings had on the club’s fortunes and the lessons learned from these costly errors.

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The 2008 acquisition of Robinho by Manchester City marked a significant milestone in the club’s history, heralding a new period of ambition under the stewardship of Sheikh Mansour. His purchase, for a then-record British fee of £32.5 million, was a resounding declaration of the club’s intent to vie for supremacy in European football.

Although Robinho showed initial promise with displays of skill and flair, he had difficulty maintaining consistent performance in the physically challenging Premier League. His impressive skills and moments of genius were frequently eclipsed by his lack of consistency and his struggle to adapt to the strenuous demands of English football.

Injuries significantly limited his influence on games by reducing his availability and ability to make an impact. Moreover, Robinho’s unprofessional off-field behaviour, such as punctuality issues, often overshadowed his on-pitch contributions, which attracted criticism from both fans and commentators. In the end, Robinho’s tenure at City was a disappointment, culminating in his sale to AC Milan in 2010.

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The signing of French defender Eliaquim Mangala by Manchester City in 2014, for a hefty fee of £42 million from Porto, marked a crucial juncture for the club. The expectation was that Mangala’s presence would bolster City’s defense. However, he found it challenging to adjust to the Premier League’s intensity and pace, resulting in uneven performances and defensive mistakes.

Although Mangala occasionally displayed his potential, he couldn’t secure a consistent starting position for City. His inability to remain composed under pressure often led to expensive errors, which frustrated both fans and management. Consequently, he was loaned to Valencia and eventually sold to Everton, concluding his disappointing tenure at City.

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The 2015 transfer of Wilfried Bony from Swansea City to Manchester City was expected to boost City’s offensive capabilities, as the Ivorian striker was purchased for a rumoured fee of roughly £28 million. However, despite Bony’s well-known abilities as a reliable goal scorer, he had difficulty establishing a permanent position in the starting lineup. This was in part because of the other top-tier offensive talents on the team, which restricted his playing hours and overall influence on the team.

Bony’s tenure at City was marked by sporadic displays of his goal-scoring skills, yet his lack of consistency fell short of the standard expected from a player of his stature. As a result, he was loaned out to Stoke City and eventually sold back to Swansea City, failing to justify the high expectations attached to his transfer fee during his stint at City.

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When Stevan Jovetić joined Manchester City from Fiorentina in 2013, his arrival was initially met with enthusiasm. The Montenegrin forward was viewed as a player who could challenge the club’s existing strikers. However, his tenure at City was plagued by continuous injuries, hampering his ability to make a substantial impact on the team.

Despite glimpses of his skill, Jovetić had difficulty with fitness and form, which led to reduced time and impact on the field. He was ultimately loaned to Inter Milan where he had a more prosperous stint, demonstrating his capabilities when in shape. Eventually, he was transferred to Sevilla.

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Jack Rodwell’s 2012 move from Everton to Manchester City was seen as a potential boost to City’s midfield and overall squad quality. However, his tenure at City was marred by continuous injuries, preventing him from becoming a consistent starter. Though Rodwell showed potential, his struggles with fitness and form severely curtailed his influence on the field.

Rodwell’s tenure at City was marked by frustration stemming from his consistent fitness struggles. Ultimately, he was transferred to Sunderland, where he encountered similar injury problems. His experience at Sunderland reflected his time at City, as ongoing fitness issues hindered his progress and stopped him from reaching his full potential.

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In 2009, Emmanuel Adebayor’s move from Arsenal to Manchester City was a significant attempt to increase City’s attacking strength. The Togolese striker joined for nearly £25 million. However, Adebayor found it challenging to maintain his previous form from Arsenal and struggled to make a significant impact on the field. His tenure at City was marked by inconsistency, where sporadic moments of excellence got overshadowed by extended bouts of underperformance.

Adebayor’s time at City wasn’t just marked by his on-pitch performance, but also by off-field disputes involving supporters and fellow players. These off-field controversies added more tension to his relationship with the club and its fans. Ultimately, he was loaned to Real Madrid before being transferred to Tottenham Hotspur.

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In 2012, Scott Sinclair made a significant move from Swansea City to Manchester City with the goal of enhancing the team’s offensive capabilities. However, the English winger struggled to secure consistent time on the field, often finding himself confined to a peripheral role within the squad.

Sinclair had difficulty making a substantial impact at City, leading to his loan to various clubs. Although he demonstrated moments of his skill, he couldn’t assert himself as a crucial player and ultimately, Celtic purchased him.

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The 2009 transfer of Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers to Manchester City was viewed as a strategy to strengthen City’s offensive line. Regrettably, the Paraguayan forward’s tenure at City was marred by repeated injuries, limiting his playing time and obstructing his potential to become a consistent starter.

Santa Cruz had a hard time making a significant impact on the pitch, which led to him being loaned out to various clubs. Even with his talent, he couldn’t manage to secure a constant spot in the team and was finally sold to Malaga.

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In 2014, Fernando was transferred from Porto to Manchester City to bolster the midfield stability of the team. Unfortunately, the Brazilian midfielder found it challenging to adjust to the Premier League’s rapid pace. His performances were frequently criticized for an apparent absence of mobility and dynamism in the midfield. Even though Fernando initially showed potential, he did not manage to establish himself as a crucial player for City and was subsequently sold to Galatasaray.

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The transfer of Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia to Manchester City in 2015 was anticipated to bolster the team’s defence. Nevertheless, the Argentine defender encountered issues with maintaining consistent performance during his tenure at the club. Although he occasionally showcased his skill, Otamendi frequently faced criticism for his impulsive decisions that resulted in defensive blunders. In spite of contributing considerably at certain times, he was unable to secure his position as a vital player at City and ultimately was transferred to Benfica.

While Manchester City’s transfer policy under Sheikh Mansour has mainly been successful, several high-profile failures have occurred. The signings mentioned in this article failed to live up to expectations for various reasons, costing the club financially and in terms of on-field performance. However, these failures have not overshadowed City’s overall success in recent years, as they continue to be a dominant force in English and European football. Preview photo by Ank kumar/ photo2 by Dragan TATIC/ CC BY 2.0/4.0/ Cropped from original