Begiristain admitted in City’s latest documentary charting last season’s title success that the summer of 2023, following their historic Treble campaign, had been “a bit horrible for me”, with some players feeling they should “obtain more or new contracts and seize opportunities.” and those who didn’t play in the final “don’t care and are trying to get out of the club”.

Viana is unlikely to have life much easier, although Guardiola’s retention will be a major lure for recruits and could also bolster efforts to persuade star striker Erling Haaland to sign a new contract. City are adamant that De Bruyne will not leave in January, but the Belgian midfielder, 34 in June, has started just 25 of the club’s last 77 matches since limping off during the final victory of the Champions League against Inter Milan and may have to leave. Gundogan is out of contract this summer when Kyle Walker, Stones, Bernardo Silva and Ederson are all set to enter the final 12 months of their contracts. City have replaced key props very successfully in the past, but this could be an obnoxious first summer for Viana.

What about the 115 charges?

Guardiola’s new contract does not contain a termination clause should City be relegated from the Premier League in the event they are found guilty of financial wrongdoing by an independent commission. A verdict in the landmark legal case dubbed the “trial of the century” is expected in the early months of next year but Guardiola did not feel the need to wait for his result before deciding on his future.

He has always urged City critics not to rush to judgment before all the facts are in and said 12 months ago he would stay at the club even if they were relegated to League One. City, who deny any wrongdoing, was charged in February 2023 by the Premier League with more than 115 alleged breaches of its regulations and, more recently, was involved in a case separate legal battle with league over associated party transactions.

Guardiola has long maintained that he believes other Premier League clubs want to see City punished and has used this in the past to create a sort of siege mentality among his players. Maybe he will do it again. This summer, some City staff seemed convinced that this would be Guardiola’s final season, that he would struggle to muster the energy to go beyond a ninth campaign in charge. Perhaps the major challenges ahead have stoked new fires within him. Either way, City’s rivals will have to get used to the sight of him for a while to come.