With City chasing a seventh Premier League title in 10 seasons under Guardiola, one might expect a player’s career to go downhill once they leave Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n
That is not necessarily true.<\/p>\n
There are numerous examples of players going on to flourish elsewhere after failing to nail down a regular spot under Guardiola.<\/p>\n
Palmer, who made 19 Premier League appearances for City, is a prime example. <\/p>\n
Since moving to Chelsea<\/a> for \u00a342.5m in September 2023, the 23-year-old forward has established himself in the England side and helped his club win the Fifa Club World Cup and the Uefa Conference League.<\/p>\n In 2019, Spanish teenager Diaz signed for Real Madrid from City for a fee believed to be around \u00a315m.<\/a><\/p>\n He made five Premier League appearances – all as a substitute – before leaving.<\/p>\n Since then the Malaga-born winger has won two La Liga titles, one Champions League – and, earlier this month, helped Morocco reach the Africa Cup of Nations final.<\/p>\n Spain defender Eric Garcia, who captained City at under-18 level, has won two La Liga titles since moving from Manchester to Barcelona in 2021, when he was 20, after 35 senior appearances.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, striker Delap – who also progressed through City’s Elite Development Squad (EDS) – was sold to Ipswich in a deal worth up \u00a320m<\/a> in July 2024, before Chelsea<\/a> signed the player for \u00a330m a year later.<\/p>\n The EDS was established to create a bridge between City’s academy and first team.<\/p>\n Designed to either prepare top-class talent for City’s main squad or to secure huge profit, selling EDS and non-first team players has brought in more than \u00a3500m to the club since Guardiola’s arrival.<\/p>\n That is significant because, when clubs sell academy graduates, the entire amount is recorded as ‘pure profit’ in their accounts, helping to meet the top-flight’s strict profit and sustainability rules.<\/p>\n Chelsea<\/a>‘s Belgium midfielder Romeo Lavia was 16 when he left Anderlecht for City. <\/p>\n Sancho, currently on loan at Aston Villa<\/a> from Manchester United<\/a>, was 14 when he moved north from Watford.<\/p>\n