Hugo Viana Tactics: How Will He Replicate His Sporting CP Success As Man City’s New Director Of Football?

Who Is Hugo Viana?

As Manchester City opens a new chapter, Hugo Viana steps into the Manchester City Sporting Director role, tasked with reshaping the clubs strategic decisions regarding recruiting new talent to sustain its success for years to come—even beyond Pep Guardiolas tenure.

This report delves into Vianas influential time at Sporting. 

It showcases his exceptional ability to scout and secure top-tier talent, a skill that promises to be pivotal for Citys future.

During his tenure at Sporting CP, Viana was renowned for his intelligent, impactful signings, propelling the club to notable successes.

Many of these players made significant moves to other clubs, where they continue to make their mark in the footballing world.

Now at Manchester City, his role is critical in steering a recruitment strategy that aligns with the clubs lofty ambitions.

This introduction sets the stage for a detailed exploration of why Viana was the choice for this crucial role and how his strategic insight is expected to harmonise with Manchester City’s objectives, potentially replicating the success he orchestrated at Sporting.

What is Manchester Citys Vision For Scouting?

Manchester City is renowned for signing players who may be somewhat under the radar or just beginning to make waves, transforming them into world-class talents.

Consider Bernardo Silva, who was not the most prominent player at Monaco, or Rúben Dias and Ederson from Benfica, who were promising young talents but not yet at a world-class level or ready to start for other major European teams.

Other notable names include Rodri, who was a substitute at Atletico Madrid; Gabriel Jesus, a burgeoning talent in Brazil; Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao; João Cancelo, a recognised talent at Juventus but not yet world-class; Leroy Sané from Schalke; and Nicolas Otamendi from Valencia.

These players, typically acquired for between 30 to 50 million euros each, had more potential than proven world-class talent but ultimately became key figures in City’s history, contributing significantly to their four consecutive EPL titles and a treble just a year and a half ago.

The rationale behind purchasing these players is their ability to take on multiple roles.

Sané can play on both wings, Rodri could fill in as number 8 if needed, and Silva has versatility from positions 6 to 10 and has even played left-back for City.

Gabriel Jesus can cover the entire frontline, from winger to striker, and even Ilkay Gündoğan, who was well-known from his time at Dortmund, has shown he can handle multiple roles in midfield—from a 6 to an 8 or a 10.

The overarching strategy is that City prefers to buy players who can perform in various positions.

This is especially critical for centre-backs, as City evaluates their ability on the ball before considering their defensive skills.

They ask: How well can you help us progress the ball from the back? Can you receive from our keeper and look to advance play?

Are you capable of playing long passes to break opposition defensive lines?

For other positions, the focus is on the players ability to retain possession, as this is essential to Pep Guardiola’s style of play.

They seek exceptionally intelligent players with the ball and value versatility highly.

They want players who are not one-dimensional but can adapt to various roles and situations on the field.

How Can Hugo Viana Fit At Manchester City?

Hugo Vianas signings for Sporting have been crucial for the clubs success on the pitch and financially.

Similar to renowned selling clubs like Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, and Benfica, Sporting has excelled in acquiring talent from smaller clubs at modest prices, then developing and selling them for substantial profits, all while securing trophies and continental success.

This strategy has seen several of Viana’s signings move on to join some of the top teams globally.

For instance, Bruno Fernandes, perhaps the most illustrious of Viana’s acquisitions, now plays a pivotal role at Manchester United.

Pedro Gonçalves, another standout, continues to impress in Europe, adding value both on the field and potentially in the market.

Nuno Mendes quickly made a name for himself and now plies his trade at Paris Saint-Germain.

Gonçalo Inácio and Matheus Nunes have both carved out significant roles, with Nunes recently moving to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Pedro Porro and João Palhinha have also made high-profile moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Bayern Munich, respectively.

Raphinha, known for his blistering pace and skill, now excites fans at Barcelona, where he has been on fire this season.

Viktor Gyokeres remains at Sporting but is widely expected to move soon, given his current form of scoring goals every week in European football.

Manchester Citys strategy of developing under-the-radar talents into elite players who attract attention from major clubs perfectly aligns with Vianas proven philosophy of buying and enhancing lesser-known talent.

However, unlike Sporting, City is not known as a selling club.

Instead, it looks to retain players for longer tenures to further their development and contribute to sustained success on the field.

Vianas adeptness in this area suggests he will seamlessly integrate into Manchester Citys vision, potentially bringing a new dimension to their already formidable recruiting strategy.

Hugo Viana Transfer Record At Sporting CP

Hugo Vianas 3 Biggest Signings At Sporting CP

The previous image shows some of Hugo Vianas biggest signings and the players he trusted in the Sporting project. 

Lets explore three of those major players that he signed and how theyve improved.

Some of the players mentioned were through the academy; its not only about signing pl