What was once the Premier League’s most dominant machine suddenly looks vulnerable - even after a late scramble in the transfer market.
The deadline-day arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, signed to replace Ederson as he completed his move to Fenerbahce, is just one layer of change. Donnarumma is a world-class goalkeeper, but not of the style you would usually associate with Guardiola.
Things are changing, and the signs have been gradual but unmistakable. Along with Ederson, the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, James McAtee, Ilkay Gundogan and Manuel Akanji have all departed over the summer. Quietly, one of the greatest Premier League sides ever assembled has been dismantled.
And now, the focus shifts to Rodri.
The midfield general and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has two years left on his contract, but he has yet to extend. Real Madrid’s long-standing interest remains alive, and the sense is that if City cannot re-establish themselves at the very top, the Spaniard might well be tempted back to his home city.
Insiders at the Etihad admit to unease. Rodri is irreplaceable - the heartbeat of Guardiola’s system and the safety net that allows their attacking brilliance to flourish. Losing him would represent more than just another high-profile exit. It would be the clearest sign yet that an era is closing.
City have faced transitions before, but Pep Guardiola now finds himself with his sternest challenge in England.
He has rebuilt sides, yet not from such a position of vulnerability. This group feels less secure, less untouchable. And if Rodri begins to doubt the club’s trajectory, the prospect of another painful farewell looms large. Sources believe he is genuinely weighing up his future.
This is no longer the all-conquering machine of recent years. For City, this is not going to be about just chasing another title - it is about proving to their own players that they still belong at the very top.
