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Where does recent West Ham loanee Kalvin Phillips rank among the worst transfer mishaps in Pep Guardiola's managerial career?
Pep Guardiola is celebrated as one of the most successful football managers in history, known for his innovative tactics and the development of world-class teams.
However, even a manager of Guardiola's caliber is not immune to occasional missteps in the transfer market.
Who are those signings, who for various reasons, didn't quite meet the expectations during Guardiola's tenures at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City?
10. Alexander Hleb
Hleb was a standout performer at Arsenal, known for his technical skills. His move to Barcelona in 2008, however, didn't translate into personal success. Although he was part of the squad that won the treble, he struggled to secure a regular place in the team and didn't make a significant personal contribution, leading to a perception of underperformance.
9. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Ibrahimovic, a prolific scorer, joined Barcelona in a high-profile swap deal involving Samuel Eto’o. While Ibrahimovic had a decent goal tally, his style clashed with Guardiola’s philosophy and he failed to gel with the team's dynamics.
The fact that Eto’o won another treble with Inter magnified the perceived shortcomings of this deal.
8. Mario Gotze
Although Gotze's arrival at Bayern Munich was not directly orchestrated by Guardiola, it coincided with his tenure.
Known for his skill, Gotze's time at Bayern was plagued by injuries and inconsistent form, preventing him from realizing his full potential under Guardiola’s system.
7. Claudio Bravo
Guardiola’s decision to bring in Bravo to Manchester City and replace fan-favorite Joe Hart was controversial.
Bravo, despite his prior success at Barcelona, struggled with the physicality and pace of the Premier League, making several notable errors.
6. Nolito
Nolito's move to Manchester City was short-lived and unremarkable despite a relatively impressive start to life at the Etihad stadium.
His performances were inconsistent, and he failed to make a significant impact, leading to a quick departure from the club.
5. Benjamin Mendy
Mendy's transfer to Manchester City was a record-breaking one for a defender.
However, his tenure was plagued by injuries and serious off-field issues, including allegations of sexual misconduct, overshadowing his on-field contributions and leading to his suspension.
4. Kalvin Phillips
Phillips, a highly regarded midfielder, joined Manchester City amidst high expectations. However, he struggled to find a regular place in Guardiola's setup.
His inability to secure significant playing time was seen as a mismatch between player and Guardiola’s tactical requirements.
3. Dmytro Chygrynskyi
Chygrynskyi was brought into Barcelona's successful squad to add defensive strength. However, he failed to adapt to Barcelona's style and barely got playing time, leading to a quick exit.
This stint is often seen as a rare misjudgment by Guardiola in the transfer market.
2. Keirrison
This Brazilian forward’s transfer to Barcelona for €14 million raised eyebrows as he never made an appearance for the first team.
It’s viewed as a puzzling investment and a clear misstep in talent evaluation.
1. Henrique Another Brazilian, Henrique's tenure at Barcelona was equally unimpressive.
He failed to break into the first team and quickly faded away from the spotlight, marking another unsuccessful signing.
In truth, while Guardiola's career is replete with successes, these signings highlight that even the most astute managers can sometimes misjudge player acquisitions, whether due to tactical mismatches, adaptation issues, or unforeseen off-field problems
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