Revealed: The two signings that helped convince Man City to appoint Sporting CP's Hugo Viana as sporting director

Begiristain has been at Manchester City since 2012 and has been very successful as the club's director of football. Earlier this month, the eight-time Premier League champions announced that the Spaniard would be leaving his post at the end of the season. The club subsequently announced that Viana would join the club as Begiristain's successor, starting in the summer of 2025.

Portuguese outlet Record have now revealed that Manchester City placed Sporting's Viana and Girona's Quique Carcel at the top of their list, but opted for the former Newcastle man for several reasons. Manchester City valued Viana’s ‘discreet and reserved profile’ and were also impressed with his ability to form a close relationship with coaches. Sporting's signings of two specific players under Viana also impressed the Manchester City hierarchy. The two players in question are Viktor Gyokeres and Morten Hjulmand, both of whom have both starred for the club and are likely to be the club's next major sales.

Gyokeres has scored 11 goals in eight league matches for Sporting this season and has been linked with a move to the Premier League.

The Portuguese sporting director is likely set to join Manchester City early in 2025 as he will be shown the ropes by Begiristain before his departure to smooth over the transition process.