It had looked like it would take more than the £80m that United spent on Harry Maguire in 2019, and potentially closer to £100m.
City have spent that amount before, but prefer to operate around the £60m mark, and have only spent over £65m once. The Blues were set on Gvardiol, and the fact that they were willing to pay so much shows how keen they were to sign him.
City believe that Gvardiol can play a role in their defence for the next decade, viewing him as a long-term signing. With a EUR90m (£77.5m) fee agreed, he will be worth every penny if he does indeed remain in Manchester until 2033.
In agreeing a fee below the world record, City will feel they have pulled off another smart signing in the transfer window, adding to a number of young, promising additions in the last few years.
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