Major Transfer Bombshell: Pep Guardiola Sparks Man City Exit Storm After Club World Cup Disaster

Manchester City’s Club World Cup campaign ended in shocking fashion as they were dumped out by Al-Hilal in a stunning 4-3 extra-time thriller, and Pep Guardiola isn’t hiding his frustration. 

Despite dominating the first half and producing a fluid attacking performance, City were undone by two quickfire goals in the second period and failed to recover, crashing out in what many fans are calling a humiliating early exit. It was a sudden twist in fortunes for the reigning Premier League champions, especially after their emphatic 5-2 win over Juventus, which Guardiola had called “our best performance in a long time.” 

But what came after the defeat was even more telling. 

Speaking after the shock loss, Guardiola hinted that the squad overhaul isn’t over, and in fact, could just be getting started. 

“We have a big squad and we’ll see what happens,” Pep told DAZN. “I’m disappointed for many players that we would have loved to have let them play but it was not possible.” 

That comment, subtle as it sounds, sent shockwaves across the Manchester City camp and fanbase. With a 27-man traveling squad, Guardiola now admits the numbers are bloated and major cuts are coming before the Premier League season kicks off. 

And with Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, and Jack Grealish already missing the trip amid growing speculation about their futures, the writing is clearly on the wall: a squad shake-up is underway at the Etihad. 

City’s early exit from the Club World Cup means they now have six weeks before their Premier League opener against Wolves, an unexpected stretch of downtime that could prove decisive for transfer activity. While that offers time to rest and reset, it also piles pressure on Guardiola to finalize squad decisions. 

The City boss already brought in four new signings this summer, but it’s evident more changes are coming, especially exits. The squad must be trimmed, and with some players already eyeing the exit door, fans should brace for more surprises. 

The defeat to Al-Hilal wasn’t just a rare misstep for a team used to winning, it was a loud wake-up call. Simone Inzaghi, now managing the Saudi side, got his revenge for the 2023 Champions League final loss, masterminding a performance that exposed City’s defensive lapses and raised questions about depth and focus. 

Now, Guardiola finds himself balancing rest, recovery, and a ruthless reshaping of his squad. With the Premier League crown to defend and a bruised ego to mend, the next few weeks at the Etihad could define City’s 2025 season. 

One thing is clear: After the Al-Hilal embarrassment, no one is safe, and Pep is ready to swing the axe. Stay tuned, because Manchester City’s transfer window drama is just heating up.