Manchester City arrived at the September international break six points behind Liverpool despite a summer of heavy recruitment. The club completed seven signings and finished the window with a total spend of £179.5 million.

Goalkeeper depth increased markedly. Marcus Bettinelli joined as emergency cover, James Trafford returned to the Etihad, and Gianluigi Donnarumma arrived on deadline day. Donnarumma has immediately risen to the top of the pecking order. The former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper is not a trademark Guardiola stopper and certainly lacks the same quality of distribution as the recently departed Ederson, but he remains one of the world’s leading goalkeepers. For just £30.3 million ($40.9 million), he should easily prove one of the bargains of the summer anywhere in world football.

At right back Guardiola has alternated between Matheus Nunes and homegrown Rico Lewis. Nunes’ transformation into an all-action right back has not been particularly inspiring, and Lewis offers greater attacking support to City’s build-up play. Lewis is not yet an elite right back, but the 20-year-old’s potential makes him the favoured choice this season.

Rúben Dias signing a contract extension until 2029 was one of City’s best pieces of business. Dias’ quality and leadership remain unquestioned as he seeks to help re-energise a fragile defence. Joško Gvardiol, who has spent much of his City career at left back, is an orthodox central defender whose physical authority makes him a natural partner for Dias.

Rayan Aït-Nouri’s arrival plugs a longstanding left-back problem. The 24-year-old wing back brings attacking instincts honed at Wolverhampton Wanderers and should adapt to Guardiola’s methods.

In midfield Rodri has returned to full match fitness after his Club World Cup setback and made his first Premier League start in almost a year in the defeat to Brighton, immediately offering composure. Tijjani Reijnders impressed at the Club World Cup and on his Premier League debut at Molineux with a goal and an assist. Reijnders can set the tempo from deep and pop up in dangerous areas.

Phil Foden has shown flashes this season. Form is temporary, but class is permanent.

Rayan Cherki arrived from Lyon for £34 million ($41.1 million) and scored on his Premier League debut but will be sidelined for the next two months with a devastating injury. Omar Marmoush offers wide quality after filling in as a central striker last season. Up front Erling Haaland remains the focal point, having still found the net three times in the Premier League this term after a 34-goal return in all competitions last season.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has made a clear call on the Ballon d’Or discussion, identifying Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé and Vitinha as his picks after a season in which PSG dominated.

Rodri’s view arrives amid a wider conversation about an open Ballon d’Or race, a contrast with years dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. His preference, though, is unambiguous.

“The Ballon d’Or is difficult,” Rodri acknowledged. “PSG has been the team of the season, and it would be hard not to give it to someone from that team. I’m happy for [the club’s manager] Luis Enrique.

“I’d like to see it go to Lamine or Pedri, but on sporting merit, it’s Dembélé or Vitinha.”

Dembélé emerges in Rodri’s assessment as the leading candidate after a dramatic year in attack. The France international is credited with 35 goals and 16 assists across all competitions, having shifted from a career on the wing into a central striker role as PSG sought to maximise his goalscoring output.

Vitinha’s case is less about headline numbers and more about control and influence. He played a deeper, more understated role for PSG, pulling the strings in midfield, and he also contributed to Portugal’s international success by helping to steer his country to Nations League glory with what has been described as a sensational eye for a pass.

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal is likely to attract plenty of attention and votes after establishing himself as the club’s talisman at just 18 years old, but Rodri suggested the teenager may have to wait a little longer before claiming football’s top individual prize.

Rodri’s comments underline a season in which PSG’s collective achievements have bolstered the personal cases of their standout performers.

Manuel Akanji, a 30-year-old treble winner with Manchester City, completed a Deadline Day loan to join Cristian Chivu at Inter Milan. The Switzerland centre back says a clear message from Pep Guardiola over the summer played a decisive role in his decision to leave on loan.

“He made it clear to us six central defenders that two would play and two would be on the bench. And that it would be difficult for the rest. That wasn’t nice to hear, because I always expect to be on the pitch,” Akanji said in a press conference during international duty.

Asked why he fell out of favour, the defender gave a brief reply: “You’ll have to ask him,” when questioned on why he fell out of favour. Akanji had been named in two of Manchester City’s first three matchday squads this term but did not manage to get off the bench. Guardiola has instead favoured a mixture of Abdukodir Khusanov, John Stones, Nathan Aké and Rúben Dias.

Akanji remains under contract at City until 2027 and did not rule out a future return to the club. He also stressed that, despite the positive feeling around his move to Inter, he and his family were comfortable in the North West of England.

During Manchester City’s treble-winning campaign in 2022–23, Akanji made 29 Premier League appearances, primarily as a centre back. He was used infrequently on the flanks and was a starter in the Champions League final in which the Sky Blues defeated Akanji’s new club.

Now with Inter, the Swiss defender will aim to make his first appearance after the international break. A challenging derby against Juventus is scheduled for next Saturday in Turin, providing an early test for his loan spell.