As Manchester City prepares for the 2025-26 Premier League season, manager Pep Guardiola has issued a bold directive to his squad’s fringe players, urging them to find new clubs to reduce the team’s bloated roster. Speaking ahead of a pre-season friendly against Palermo on August 9, 2025, in Sicily, the legendary Spanish tactician expressed his discomfort with the current squad size of 31 players, a number he deems unsustainable for maintaining team harmony and player morale. “We need a little bit fewer numbers. I don’t like lots of players. A lot of players should leave,” Guardiola stated, his words carrying the weight of a manager determined to restore City’s competitive edge after a trophyless 2024-25 campaign. His call for a leaner squad signals a pivotal moment for the club as they navigate a challenging transfer window.
Guardiola’s urgency stems from a summer of significant activity that saw City bolster their ranks with five new signings: goalkeepers James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli, defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, and midfielders Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki. These additions, costing over £150 million, were intended to rejuvenate an aging squad, but with only Kevin De Bruyne confirmed to depart, the roster has swelled beyond Guardiola’s preferred limit of 23 players. The absence of Jack Grealish, Stefan Ortega, and James McAtee from the Palermo friendly squad sparked speculation about their futures, with Everton eyeing Grealish and Nottingham Forest leading the chase for McAtee. Ortega, seeking regular minutes to bolster his World Cup aspirations with Germany, also faces an uncertain future. “It’s not only Jack. There is not one player in my locker room that is happy when they do not play,” Guardiola admitted, acknowledging the emotional toll of sidelining talent.
The manager’s push for a smaller squad is not a new stance. In May 2025, after a 3-1 win over Bournemouth, Guardiola threatened to resign if the squad wasn’t trimmed, declaring, “I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I will quit. Make a shorter squad, I will stay.” His philosophy emphasizes a tight-knit group where every player feels valued, a formula that powered City to four consecutive Premier League titles from 2020 to 2023. However, last season’s third-place finish, 23 points behind champions Liverpool, exposed vulnerabilities exacerbated by injuries, notably to Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who suffered a groin injury at the Club World Cup. “Rodri is getting better, but he had a big injury in the last game against Al Hilal,” Guardiola noted, cautioning that the midfielder may not be fully fit until after the September international break.
The transfer window’s final weeks are critical for new sporting director Hugo Viana, who assumed the role after Txiki Begiristain’s departure. Viana faces the challenge of offloading players like Grealish, whose limited starts last season frustrated fans, and McAtee, a promising academy product seeking regular football. Young defender Vitor Reis, signed for £29.5 million, has been loaned to Girona, a move Guardiola endorsed, saying, “I love Vitor a lot and he has an incredible future, but I don’t want him staying at home every weekend.” Meanwhile, talents like Claudio Echeverri, who debuted in the FA Cup final, and Oscar Bobb, recovering from a fractured leg, are likely to stay, reflecting Guardiola’s focus on nurturing youth while maintaining a competitive core.
City’s early season schedule, including matches against Wolves, Spurs, and Brighton, adds urgency to resolving the squad’s composition. Guardiola warned that the team may lack sharpness due to limited pre-season friendlies, a decision made to prioritize rest after the Club World Cup. “The good mood is similar to what we had at the Club World Cup, but maybe we’ve missed some friendlies to prepare better,” he said. As City navigates UEFA squad registration rules and the looming 115 financial fair play charges, Guardiola’s call for a streamlined roster is both a tactical and emotional plea. “It’s impossible for my soul to tell my players in the stands that they cannot play,” he emphasized, underscoring his commitment to a cohesive team ready to reclaim their place at the top of English football.
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