We allowed him leave for just £50M and now he was ranked above all our players in the Balon d’Or ranking including Rodri”- Pep Guardiola regrets letting his “world class” star leave for just £50M who is now placed above their star boy in the Balon d’Or.

Manchester City’s manager, Pep Guardiola, is not one to linger on past mistakes, but he has now acknowledged that one particular transfer decision still troubles him. In a surprising admission, Guardiola revealed that selling a certain player for only £50M was a major error, particularly after seeing him outperform all of City’s top players—including Rodri—in the recent Ballon d’Or rankings.

Guardiola, renowned for his careful squad management, seldom makes errors in the transfer market. However, this time it appears he misjudged the potential of a player who has now blossomed into a world-class talent elsewhere. During a recent interview, Guardiola reportedly stated:

“We allowed him to leave for just £50M, and now he’s ranked above ALL our players in the Ballon d’Or, including Rodri! Selling him was my BIGGEST MISTAKE!”

The Transfer That City Fans Now Regret

At the time, City were willing to let go of the player, thinking they could do without him. The club accepted an offer, believing it was a smart business move, but what followed was entirely unexpected. One manager saw what Guardiola missed and gave the player the opportunity to thrive. Now, he has gone on to establish himself as one of the world’s best, showing that City parted with a generational talent far too early.

His exceptional performances have not only boosted his new club but also drawn the attention of the global football community, earning him a place higher than Rodri in the Ballon d’Or rankings. This has left City fans questioning the club’s judgment, with many now seeking an explanation for why he was allowed to leave so easily.

Did Guardiola Make His Biggest Mistake?

For a manager who has crafted one of the most successful teams in football history, this transfer decision could become one of his greatest regrets. While City continue to dominate on the domestic front, watching a former player outshine their stars globally is undeniably a tough reality to face.

Now, the big question remains—will Guardiola and Manchester City ever repeat such a costly mistake?