Txiki Berigistain: Manchester City director says club remains committed to developing young players despite summer spending spree
Manchester City's director of football Txiki Begiristain says the Premier League club remain committed to developing and blooding youth despite a record-breaking summer spending spree.
City gave new manager Pep Guardiola the ultimate show of support by bankrolling a £181m transfer window splurge on new players including £47m centre-back John Stones, £15m Spanish winger Nolito and £23m German international Ilkay Gundogan.
Yet despite spending more than ever before on new transfers, Begiristain has assured fans the club is not solely interested in big money arrivals and stressed that recruiting local talent remains a concern.
Read more: Manchester City spend more money than the entire French Ligue 1 in summer transfer window spree
City have pumped £200m into a new state-of-the-art football academy, yet under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group the club has struggled to bring youngsters into the first team.
While the likes of Nolito and Stones have gone straight into Guardiola's plans this season, City also spent money on teenagers Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko who are regarded as more long-term options.
“Our global network of scouts are working continuously to identify and recruit the best young talent on the planet to develop with our methodology and coaching here in Manchester," Begiristain told the club's official website.
“Equally important to us is bringing in the best local talent from here in Manchester – we have a clear idea on how we want our young players to play and so we identify footballers who we believe can play in this style, no matter where they’re from.”