5 Players Manchester City Sold Too Soon
One of Sir Alex Ferguson’s great strengths was his ability to sell players at the right time.
There were countless times he would recognise a player’s decline before anyone else and cash in. There aren’t many who left Manchester United under his watch and made him regret the decision to sell.
However, even he made some errors. Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy spring instantly to mind as players who had plenty left to offer yet were offloaded.
Manchester City have done it many times. Here are five players they would probably have been better holding on to for longer.
Kieran Trippier
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It was as a nine-year-old that Kieran Trippier joined the City academy. The Bury-born right-back was highly thought of. A professional young man with obvious talent, he became a regular in the reserve side in 2007 and captained the FA Youth Cup-winning side of 2008.
It was clear he was a talented player. He had plenty of pace and energy, two prerequisites for modern full-backs, and loved to get forward and supplement attacks.
However, with City imbued by the takeover of the club in 2008, first-team chances weren't forthcoming, and he joined Burnley on a permanent deal as a 21-year-old, having spent a season on loan at Turf Moor and impressing.
He made 185 appearances for Burnley but left in 2015 to join Tottenham Hotspur. First-team chances have been somewhat limited, though. He made 19 appearances, 10 of which came in the UEFA Europa League, and scored one goal.
He isn't a world-class player, but he's a fine crosser and excellent defender. He would tick the club-trained box at City, too. Perhaps he was allowed to leave too soon.
Matija Nastasic
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The strange case of Matija Nastasic. Signed by Roberto Mancini in 2012 from Fiorentina, where he had only played 29 games but managed to make a significant impression on Serie A, he was the Blues' best player in the ill-fated 2012/13 season that saw them put up a limp defence of the title, despite being just 19.
It seemed like City had landed a rarity—a teenage centre-back with a mature reading of the game, capable of playing at the top level of the game for years to come.
Mancini's exit saw a rapid decline, though. Manuel Pellegrini never quite fancied him, and he fell out of favour. He was sold to Schalke 04 in 2015.
Given City's defensive recruits in recent seasons, his departure feels somewhat premature.
Paul Walsh
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Paul Walsh was superb for City in the 1990s. Signed in 1994 as City were heading for relegation, his arrival—along with those of Peter Beagrie and Uwe Rosler—helped steer the club to safety.
The following season saw him produce some wonderful football in Brian Horton's entertaining side. He played alongside Rosler and Niall Quinn with equal potency and became a huge fans' favourite.
Alan Ball, one of the most disastrous managers in City's history, got rid of him way too hastily. He sent Walsh plus some cash down to Portsmouth in return for Gerry Creaney.
The worst deal in City's history? It's a strong contender.
Gareth Barry
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There have been few more important signings post-takeover than Gareth Barry, who joined the club from Aston Villa in 2009 for £12 million.
With him in midfield producing his simple yet effective passing, City won the 2011 FA Cup, their first major trophy in 35 years, and the 2012 Premier League, their first title in 44 years. He was superb—a vastly underrated component in the club's new-found success.
Pellegrini's arrival saw his demise. He was loaned to Everton for the season in the summer of 2013 and then signed permanently the following year.
It felt as though his legs were giving way when the Chilean arrived—but his form at Everton proved that was nonsense.
Michael Brown
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Michael Brown came through City's academy and established himself as a first-team regular.
He won the club's Player of the Year in 2008 and made 103 appearances. A full-blooded central midfielder, he often tread a fine line, never too far away from a yellow card, but it was his commitment that made him a player so revered.
Brown was sold to Sheffield United in 2000 after a loan spell with the Blades, and his career suddenly took off. He was superb for Neil Warnock and eventually got a move to Tottenham.
