The €1.05 billion Manchester City saved by "cheating": it spent it on these signings

The Premier League has just taken a position regarding the Manchester City case. They have made official the team's guilt on all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a period of nine seasons, and on most of the charges related to its lack of cooperation with the League's investigation.

Among some of the conclusions, they noted that City " arranged "fake" contracts and significantly breached the spending limits of both the Premier League and UEFA ." The club's aim, in the words of the Premier League, was to " reduce its costs by more than £900 million (€1.05 billion) during the affected period, in order to appear to comply with the financial rules." The consequence of this, according to the Commission, was that "the club submitted inaccurate accounts and concealed the true financial position from its auditors and football regulators."

The independent Commission determined that Manchester City entered into fictitious commercial agreements with several of its sponsors during that period, as part of a covert financing scheme, under which those companies only had to pay part of the corresponding sponsorship fees . The rest was financed by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), the club's owner. As part of this scheme, other fictitious agreements were formalized, funded by ADUG, so that the club could record operating expenses lower than the real ones , as well as a fictitious circular agreement with Fordham, an entity that acquired the image rights of the club's players, also funded by ADUG.

And during those years, from 09/10 to 17/18, the team spent 1.44 billion euros , thanks to which big stars arrived in Manchester who managed to change the club's history.

Season 09/10: Most notable signings: Carlos Tévez (29 million euros), Emmanuel Adebayor (29 million euros), Joleon Lescott (27.5 million euros). Spending: €147.3M. Income: €29.4M.

Season 10/11: Most notable signings: Edin Dzeko (€37 million), Yaya Touré (€30 million), Mario Balotelli (€29.5 million), David Silva (€28.75 million). Spending: €183.61 million. Income: €40.15 million.

Season 11/12: Most notable signings: Sergio Agüero (40 million euros), Samir Nasri (27.5 million euros). Spending: €91.05M. Income: €31.45M.

Season 12/13: Most notable signings: Javi García (20 million euros). Spending: €61.95M. Income: €44.3M.

Season 13/14: Most notable signings: Fernandinho (€40 million), Stevan Jovetić (€26 million), Álvaro Negredo (€25 million). Spending: €115.5M. Income: €11.3M.

Season 14/15: Most notable signings: Eliaquim Mangala (€45 million), Wilfried Bony (€32.3 million). Spending: €102.8M. Income: €30.3M.

Season 15/16: Most notable signings: Kevin De Bruyne (76 million euros), Raheem Sterling (64 million euros), Nicolás Otamendi (44.5 million euros). Spending: €208.47M. Income: €67.44M.

Season 16/17: Most notable signings: John Stones (€56 million), Leroy Sané (€52 million), Gabriel Jesus (€32 million), İlkay Gündoğan (€27 million). Spending: €216.25M. Income: €35.35M.

Season 16/17: Most notable signings: Aymeric Laporte (€65 million), Benjamin Mendy (€58 million), Kyle Walker (€52.7 million), Bernardo Silva (€50 million), Ederson (€40 million). Spending: €317.5 million. Income: €91.35 million.