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Pep Guardiola appeared to aim a cheeky dig at Manchester City’s Premier League rivals - including Liverpool - as the ex-Barcelona coach discussed spending across the division this summer.
A record £2.37bn has been spent by top-flight clubs in England, the most in a single window, and that figure is only expected to rise in the final week of the summer market. City, which parted with huge funds to muscle its way to the top of the Premier League pyramid during the 2010s, has been more conscious of balancing the books in recent years.
Like Liverpool, the Blues have become expert sellers in the market - an area where the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal are still lacking. That shows this summer, with the pair only bringing in around £7million ($9M) combined in transfer fees.
In terms of expenditure, its Liverpool who tops the table so far in the market with €340M ($399M/£295M), as per Transfermarkt, but given the high-profile sales of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Jarell Quansah (among others), the Reds sit third on net spend in the division, just marginally ahead of City.
Guardiola’s side has been outspent by Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and United this summer - a fact that clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Guardiola.
“I don't know, but the clubs spend with the strict financial rules [of PSR] and they will only spend if they can do it,” the Catalan said on Friday ahead of the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
"Apparently It's not just Manchester City [who are spending].
“Everyone does what they believe is the best for the team,” he added. “I know our net spend for the last 10-11 years is amazing.
"You don't spend if you don't sell. We have been really good, that's why they're sustainable.”
City’s summer spend comes in at €177M ($207M/£179M), and the club has the fourth highest net spend in the Premier League.
While Liverpool has vastly outspent its long-term rival this summer, it has also recouped almost four times as much in incoming transfer fees. Only Bournemouth and Chelsea have brought in higher amounts.
The accusation that City has bought its way to success has long been a bone of contention among executives at the Etihad, who may point across Manchester to prove that spending lavish sums doesn’t necessarily result in success.
United’s €230M net spend on transfer is the highest in the division this summer, followed by Arsenal on €216M, and then a long drop to Liverpool in third on €120M. City follows in fourth on €118M.
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