Manchester City send officials to Portugal to monitor performances in FC Porto match

Over the years, one of the key reasons behind Manchester City’s unrivalled dominance has been their excellent recruitment.

While it is out in the open that City are one of the wealthiest teams on the planet, the manner in which they use their resources towards targeting the most suitable player profiles is what makes the club a cut above the rest.

Apart from keeping a close eye on all things in English football, Manchester City officials and scouts tend to be extremely attentive towards developments across the world.

There is not a better example of how the Premier League champions have taken a foothold of the South American market.

With the arrivals of unearthed gems such as Gabriel Jesus, Yan Couto, Kayky and Julian Alvarez in the past five years, the club’s transfer strategy in the continent is second to none.

Another area of the world that Pep Guardiola’s side tends to be on top of all times is Portugal.

The likes of Ederson, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva were all initially developed by the Benfica academy.

Considering the Primeira Liga is now renowned as a league from which players tend to settle to English football with aplomb, it would not be a stretch to suggest that Manchester City started a trend of their own.

Another example is that of Carlos Borges’ - one of the Elite Development Squad’s most talented youngsters - who was snapped up by the English giants at just 10 years of age from Sporting CP.

A new revelation now suggests that the club are once again assessing the Portuguese market to further strengthen their squad.

As per a report by newspaper O Jogo, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City had scouts present for the contest between FC Porto and Gil Vicente last weekend.

It has been claimed that it still remains unknown which players in action were being scouted by Manchester City during Porto’s 2-0 victory last Sunday.

However, the Sky Blues were not the only side that had sent scouts to witness the action, with other clubs from England, Spain, France all fixated on the proceedings.

While only time will tell whether Manchester City sign players from the Portuguese top-flight next summer, it is telling how the club is already hard at work, despite the transfer window shutting as recently as last Friday.