Manchester City director of football Txiki Begiristain is expected to leave the club at the end of this season, according to a report.
The Spaniard joined the Citizens in 2012 in a move that reunited him with CEO Ferran Soriano, who he worked with during a successful spell at Barcelona.
Begiristain, who spent seven years of his playing career at Barca, worked as technical director at the club from 2008 to 2010 when Pep Guardiola made the La Liga giants one of, if not the, greatest club side in world football.
He then made the move to the Etihad Stadium and arrived four years before Man City appointed Guardiola as their new manager, following the departure of Manuel Pellegrini.
Begiristain, along with other members of Man City's hierarchy, has overseen a hugely successful spell of dominance from Guardiola's teams both domestically and in Europe, with the club winning a total of 22 trophies across seven different competitions.
However, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Begiristain has made the decision to leave his role with the reigning Premier League champions at the end of the 2024-25 season.
© Imago
Begiristain set to depart after 13 years at Man City
The report adds that Begiristain originally planned to step back from day-to-day operations when he turned 55, but he was so invested in the club's project and working alongside Guardiola that he extended that to his 60th birthday, which he celebrated in August.
His decision is said to have been made with full knowledge and endorsement of Man City's hierarchy and the club are believed to have already reached an agreement to appoint a successor, who is due to start in early 2025.
Begiristain is said to have played a leading role in the recruitment of his replacement and will continue with his duties at the club during a handover period for the first six months.
Guardiola, whose own future at Man City is uncertain as his contract is due to expire next summer, heaped praise on Begiristain earlier this year, telling reporters: "Txiki has been massively important at this club. He was here before I arrived and was stable in the club. He has been really important in these years and part of the enormous success we've had in terms of results and many things, he has been so important.
"I do ask him to take responsibility with the media, talk a bit, but he's so shy. He wants to be behind the scenes so all the shots and the weapons are directed to me, but it was the same in Barcelona.
"He's a close friend and we've known each other 25 or 30 years. He's calm and that balance helps us work perfectly together."
Reports on Begiristain's decision to depart come just a day after it was announced that Man City have claimed victory - following a tribunal - in their legal battle with the Premier League over Associated Party Transactions (APT) rules.
Oliver Thomas
