City have lost big players on and off pitch before-and the club rolls on...

PEP Guardiola struggled to hold back the tears.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

“We cannot replace him. We cannot,” he insisted as City faced up to the prospect of life without one of their key men.

Except they did.

Sergio Aguero was incredible throughout his career at the Etihad, yet the year after he left the team won the Premier League without a recognised striker and the year after that they signed the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland.

City are understandably sad about the departure of their Chief Operating Officer Omar Berrada, poached by the new investment at United to become their new Chief Executive Officer.

It is a promotion for a man who has contributed immensely to City’s success over the last decade, and a warning shot to the Blues that they may have to take the new-look United more seriously.

Yet, just as with Aguero, any sadness will also be met by the reality of the structure at the football club. 

Berrada was a prominent part of the task force responsible for axing their best-ever striker and finding his replacement and will be under no illusions that there will be one to cover his departure.

It cannot be denied that Berrada was one of the most important cogs in the City machine and his expertise will be missed.