Guardiola gifts £10k to every member of City’s first-team staff

Pep Guardiola has given a bonus of £10,000 to each member of Manchester City’s support staff. It is understood that the gift was recently received by every employee who works in the first-team building at the club’s training base, the City Football Academy.
About 60 to 70 people work in the building, including chefs, receptionists, physiotherapists, kit men, baristas and security staff.
Guardiola has tried to foster a togetherness in the workplace and a connection between staff and players during his eight-year spell in charge of the club. The 53-year-old Catalan believes it is one of the reasons that he and his coaching staff have been successful during his time at the club.
“More or less these years we have been perfectly together, players, club, staff, backroom staff,” Guardiola said last season. “The mood is really good and has been for many years.”
The City players also have their own collection for staff every season.
Last year, the club won their fourth successive Premier League title, bringing the total league triumphs in Guardiola’s tenure to six. City have also won the Champions League, two FA Cups and four Carabao Cups during his time in charge.
Meanwhile, City have cooled their interest in Kyogo Furuhashi, the Celtic striker, and are highly unlikely to sign any more players before the transfer window closes on Friday night.
City discussed the possibility of signing Furuhashi after Oscar Bobb broke a bone in his leg, ruling him out for three-four months, but have decided against bidding for the 29-year-old Japan forward.
City had also spoken about the possibility of bringing in Orri Oskarsson, the 19-year-old Copenhagen forward.
In the end, Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain, the sporting director, decided it would be better to stick with the present squad, which has been boosted by the return of Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona on a free transfer.
City sold Julián Álvarez to Atletico Madrid in an £81.5million deal. Should City’s only recognised striker Erling Haaland suffer an injury or need a rest, Guardiola is likely to revert to the false-nine system that brought him so much success earlier in his tenure.
Atletico were interested in loaning City midfielder Matheus Nunes, but Guardiola wants to keep the Portuguese at the club because he believes he can play a part in the first team this season.
City’s only other summer departure was Sergio Gómez, who joined Real Sociedad for £8.4million last month.