The reigning Premier League champions are set to see a hearing into their protracted Financial Fair Play case open on Monday. With proceedings finally getting underway, it is expected that all evidence will have to be heard over the course of the next 10 weeks.

A final judgement will then be made, although any appeals against those rulings will drag the long-running saga on into 2025. City have always maintained their innocence – after seeing the charges brought to light in February 2023 – and the official line coming out of the Etihad Stadium is that they have nothing to worry about.

That is according to former City defender Aymeric Laporte, who now plies his club trade alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, with the Spain international defender telling the Daily Mail: “When I was there and the news broke, the sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) and the CEO (Ferran Soriano) came and told all the players and staff that we can all be very calm because not one rule has been broken by Man City.

“They told us everything was fine so that’s why we all think City will be fine. I don’t think there will be any issues. Like Pep Guardiola always says, if something wrong has been done, they will have to pay for it.”

Speculation has raged regarding potential sanctions for City – who have enjoyed an era of dominance under Guardiola – with it suggested that they could face points deductions, hefty fines or even demotion out of the English top-flight.