Txiki Begiristain to take charge as Manchester City director

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London, Oct. 28: Former Barcelona technical director Txiki Begiristain is set to take up his new post as Manchester City’s new director of football within the next fortnight after he agreed to head the Premier League champions’ first-team recruitment operation.

Brian Marwood, currently operating as Manchester City’s football administrator, will move to a new role as managing director of the City Football Academy as the club attempts to create a production line of home-grown talent at the Etihad Stadium, reports the Telegraph.

“I’m pleased to have such an opportunity. I look forward to working with Brian Marwood, Roberto Mancini and Ferran Soriano in building a team and philosophy which will serve City well in the near and long term future,” Begiristain said.

Begiristain is set to be handed the role of dealing with contract negotiations and player recruitment at City, a position which will see him deal directly with manager Roberto Mancini, but reporting to Soriano.

Mancini’s criticism of Marwood’s transfer dealings over the past two summers caused friction between the Italian and the club’s hierarchy, but it is understood that Begiristain will operate to the same blueprint laid down by City’s Abu Dhabi management as Marwood.

And despite Mancini’s cool relationship with Marwood and his criticism of the former Arsenal and England midfielder, City chairman Khaldoon al Mubarak remains an admirer of Marwood’s contribution, prompting his re-assignment to the Academy. (ANI)