Manchester City ’s future is currently in the balance with over 100 charges from the Premier League hanging over them.
It remains to be seen what punishments are brought against them as an independent commission takes a look at the case - albeit supporters and staff will certainly be hoping that no retrospective action is taken against the club. Since their takeover, Man City have lifted six Premier League titles, as well as a whole host of other trophies.
It’s fair to say that without the intervention of Sheikh Mansour and his Abu Dhabi-backed bid for the club, the Premier League would have a completely different complexion. Take a look at what could have happened instead should the takeover have not been completed:
No ‘Welcome to Manchester'
Even before beating their near neighbours to arguably one of the most dramatic Premier League title successes in 2012, Man City were already getting under the skin of their near neighbours Manchester United. Following a prolific two-year loan spell with the Red Devils, Argentine striker Carlos Tevez was aiming to secure a permanent move to Manchester.
He did that but not in the way that most expected as he pitched up at the Etihad Stadium. City made sure to make it known across the city as they erected a huge sign of Tevez adorned with the words “Welcome to Manchester” in a message that then boss Mark Hughes has confirmed was meant to annoy Sir Alex Ferguson and co.
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A two-time champion with United, Tevez went on to add another winners’ medal to his collection with City.
Carlos Tevez was welcomed to Man City with a controversial poster (PA Archive/Press Association Images)What do you think could have happened in the Premier League should Man City's takeover not have happened? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Arsenal dominate the Premier League
Speaking of transfers, a number of players would likely have never made the move to City from Arsenal. The likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy switched to the Etihad having impressed in North London.
It remains to be seen whether those players would have stayed with Arsenal or not, but should they have done that, it would have allowed for a period of far more consistency under Arsene Wenger. That may have given the Gunners the ability to sustain title challenges for far longer under the Frenchman and would likely have seen them end their wait for a crown long before this season.
Sticking with the Gunners though, with Pep Guardiola never arriving at City, Mikel Arteta would never move to the Etihad as his assistant and would choose to cut his managerial teeth in North London instead. That could have put them on track for their third title in succession by now…
No bizarre statues
Whilst iconic defender Vincent Kompany arrived at City before Sheikh Mansour’s takeover, the same cannot quite be said of Sergio Aguero and David Silva. The pair were signed in the early 2010s - their contributions to the club impossible to understate.
City have attempted to mark that in earnest by erecting statues of the duo - and Kompany - outside of the Etihad Stadium. Without the takeover, it is unlikely that the pair would have moved to the club in the first place.
As such, they would not have statues representing them - albeit the one of Aguero looking slightly more like it was celebrating Real Madrid star Toni Kroos instead.
Sergio Aguero's statue bears a striking resemblance to Toni Kroos (Getty Images)Aguerooooo moment disappears
Aguero, the inspiration for the silver statue, delivered the most iconic moment in Premier League history. With his side 2-1 down to Queens Park Rangers in stoppage time, he scored the eventual winning goal to not only secure the three points but also the title for City.
His strike also triggered commentator Martin Tyler to emulate his Spanish colleagues with a line that immediately went into Premier League folklore: “Aguerrrroooooo”.
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With the hitman never making the move to Man City, that moment actually never happened and would see near neighbours Man Utd claim the title instead. Not as thrilling…
Sir Alex retires earlier
While the away end at the Stadium of Light would have descended into raptures come the final whistle of that game, there would have been somewhat of a sombre mood amid the retirement of legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot always intended to go out on a high after a trophy-laden run.
He did that the following season after a United side powered by the lethal goalscoring instincts of Robin van Persie cantered to yet another Premier League crown. With the Red Devils instead securing victory the season prior, Sir Alex would likely have been tempted to hang up his iconic trench coat in 2012 instead.
Whilst David Moyes would still be his choice as successor, the Red Devils would miss the boat on the appointment of Louis van Gaal so who knows where the club would be right now?
Sir Alex Ferguson might have retired a year earlier (Getty Images)Liverpool never get Klopp
Away from the Old Trafford hot seat, there is another club’s history that would have arguably been changed even more so - Liverpool. Man City and the Reds have been intertwined over the past few seasons but ironically, the Merseyside club may not have enjoyed that period had it not been for their rivals.
Liverpool would have gone on to claim the 2013/14 title with little opposition from the eventual champions - not even Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip or collapse against Crystal Palace costing them.
On the back of that, Brendan Rodgers would have been given far longer in charge meaning that Jurgen Klopp would never arrive on Merseyside. The German has been pivotal to the Reds returning to their former glory but supporters would never see him prowl on the touchline at Anfield.
Suarez rivals Shearer
On the topic of Liverpool, one man who could have seen his future altered by Man City is Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The former Ajax star enjoyed a prolific three-and-a-half years spell with Liverpool scoring 69 goals in 110 Premier League games.
He elected to leave Liverpool in the aftermath of their title failure in a big-money switch to Barcelona. With the Reds instead claiming that title, he would stay on Merseyside with the 179 league goals he has scored since instead adding to his Liverpool haul.
That would see him sit just 12 goals behind all-time top scorer Alan Shearer in the race for the record - albeit Harry Kane would also be providing Suarez with plenty of competition.
Luis Suarez would be rivalling the all-time Premier League scoring record by now (Getty Images)Mourinho and Solskjaer lead Red Devils to title
Taking away Man City’s title domination, Man Utd would have won a further three league crowns to add to their all-time record of 20 top-flight successes. Away from the iconic 2011/12 season, the Red Devils would also have won the league in the 2017/18 and 2020/21 seasons.
That would mean that Jose Mourinho would have become a Premier League champion for the fourth time whilst Norwegian boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would also have a winners’ medal to his name after leading the Red Devils to second in the 2020/21 campaign.
What that means for the future of Erik ten Hag, we will never know.
Leicester in the Champions League
Away from title successes and transfers, one club who would have been worth keeping an eye on would have been Leicester City. The East Midlands outfit secured back-to-back fifth-placed finishes over recent seasons but without Man City would have been in the Champions League each campaign.
That added revenue would have hugely assisted the Foxes to remain at the top of the table and who knows, maybe another Premier League crown?
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