Pep Guardiola regrets letting his “world class” star leave for just £50M who is now placed above their star boy in the Balon d’Or.

Pep Guardiola is not one to dwell on past decisions, but even he has acknowledged that letting a particular player leave Manchester City for £50 million was a costly error. The regret deepened after the former City star outshone all of Guardiola’s current players, including Rodri, in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

Renowned for his strategic squad management, Guardiola rarely miscalculates when it comes to transfers. However, this instance stands out as a rare oversight. He recently admitted in an interview that the decision to sanction the player’s departure was one he deeply regrets, especially given the player’s rise to prominence elsewhere.

At the time, City believed they could move forward without him, accepting what seemed like a reasonable offer. Yet, another manager recognized the player’s immense potential and provided the right environment for him to flourish. Now, he has emerged as one of the best in the world, proving that City may have given up on a generational talent too soon. His performances have not only lifted his current club but also drawn widespread recognition, placing him ahead of Rodri in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

This revelation has left City supporters questioning the club’s judgment, with many wondering why such a valuable player was allowed to leave so easily. While Guardiola has built one of the most dominant teams in football, seeing a former player eclipse City’s stars on the global stage is a bitter pill to swallow.

The pressing question now is whether Guardiola and Manchester City will ensure that such a costly mistake never happens again.