On the morning of September 30 (CEST), the Premier League officially announced that Manchester City FC had been found guilty on multiple charges. British media outlet "The Mirror" published a lengthy analysis exploring why Manchester City FC is confident enough not to include relegation clauses in player contracts, despite knowing they could face rule violations.

The article states that despite the risk of a "seismic case for the Premier League," Manchester City FC has continued to spend lavishly in recent transfer windows to strengthen their squad. However, the club's superstar players have no relegation clauses in their contracts.

In January 2025, Erling Haaland signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract with Manchester City FC, keeping him at the club until he turns 34. The pressing question points directly to the 115 charges. When asked whether his new contract contained a relegation clause should Manchester City FC be found guilty, the Norwegian striker answered "no."

Manchester City FC has secured the commitment of their most valuable asset, possibly the most dangerous striker in the world, for nearly a decade, covering the prime years of his career. He is still only 26 years old.

Now, top clubs across the globe are watching Erling Haaland's every move, ready to act immediately should he become available. Like many other superstars at Manchester City FC who have contributed to the team's tremendous success in recent years, he too could potentially leave.

However, should the worst-case scenario occur and Manchester City FC is found guilty and relegated from the Premier League as punishment, Erling Haaland is not the only player without a relegation clause in his contract.

Other top players who joined the club in the past three transfer windows also lack relegation clauses in their contracts – between July 2025 and September 2026, Manchester City FC has spent over £300 million in net expenditure.

But this raises a question: how could Manchester City FC negotiate contracts with these players when everyone knows a judgment day is approaching?

The charges regarding Premier League financial rule violations were formally filed in February 2023, but this did not stop the team from continuing to succeed, nor did it prevent them from attracting top players during this period.

Savinho, Donnarumma, Semedo, and Gvardiol all joined the team between 2025 and 2026. This summer alone, the club spent a massive £450 million to completely rebuild their midfield, bringing in Enzo Fernández, Anderson, Bouda, and Ndiyae.

Among them, Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández was determined to join Manchester City FC. He not only informed Chelsea of his desire to leave but explicitly stated that Manchester City FC must be his next destination.

Anderson directly chose between Manchester City FC and Manchester United, ultimately selecting Manchester City FC. The situation for most other players was similar. Gvardiol could have chosen any club if he waited until summer as a free agent, but instead joined Manchester City FC in January. Semedo surely knew Arsenal would likely contact him again if he waited patiently.

Given this major squad overhaul, Manchester City FC has completely transformed their team. The goalkeeper position (Ederson was replaced by Donnarumma), defense, and midfield have all been upgraded, with veteran players like De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva departing, and new signings like Anderson and Enzo Fernández arriving.

This clearly goes beyond a typical squad rebuild. It must involve contingency plans in case the club is ultimately found guilty – not only facing relegation but also a transfer ban. Yet Manchester City FC does not appear to view it that way. Regardless, the current squad depth is exceptionally strong.

However, the key factor in convincing these players to sign was not the relegation clause, but the club's commitment to paying bonuses, wage increases, and performance-based incentives. These bonuses are typically straightforward; the club will honor them as contractually agreed and legally binding. This relies on excellent agents ensuring their clients are protected.

Another overlooked factor is Manchester City FC's own unwavering confidence: they are strongly convinced the club will ultimately prove their innocence. Within the club, there has been genuine confidence throughout that they possess sufficient evidence to counter and refute the charges. This belief remains unshaken, regardless of external perception. In communications with players, agents, and families, Manchester City FC's leadership has never shown even a hint of doubt in their words, feelings, or thoughts. This has had considerable influence.

Ultimately, players may not need relegation clauses at all. Should the harshest punishment come, no matter who the club owner is, the team cannot sustain massive Premier League-level wages, let alone Championship-level salaries.

The genuine affection that superstar Erling Haaland has for this club should not be overlooked, as with other players. But it would be naive to think players won't attempt to leave to play in the Champions League and compete for the most prestigious trophies. Manchester City FC may be forced to release them. That's how football works.

However, the storm brewing for years has never dampened Manchester City FC's determination to attract and sign top players and maintain their position at the summit, no matter what happens.

แปลโดย AI

เว็บไซต์ AF เปิดตัวแล้ว! ดูข่าว ความคิดเห็น รายละเอียดแมตช์ และสถิติครบถ้วนบนคอมพิวเตอร์ของคุณ เยี่ยมชม: www.allfootballapp.com