Cavan Sullivan has ascended to stardom during his recent run with Philadelphia Union and now with the U.S. Men's National Team, and the future of his club career could take another turn. Manchester City, the club Sullivan signed a pre-agreement to join upon his 18th birthday next year, was found guilty on all 115 charges surrounding the club breaking the Premier League's financial regulations.
This is an unprecedented situation; never has a club been found guilty of such serious allegations. While no sanctions have been finalized, recent cases present a troubling precedent for what might happen to City.
Everton and Forest set the mark
In the 2023-2024 Premier League season, both Everton and Nottingham Forest received point deductions for separate breaches of financial regulations. Everton was docked six points, which was reduced from 10 for one breach, and another two points for a second charge. Forest was penalized four points for one charge after cooperating during the investigation.
According to The Athletic, Everton's six-point deduction was used as a benchmark for Forest's penalty, and if the same is to be applied to Manchester City's case, the penalty could be severe. Due to the number of breaches, fans are clamoring for City to be punished with more than just point deductions. Some want titles stripped, relegation from the Premier League, and potentially expulsion from the English Football League altogether.
Pochettino weighs in
Now-USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, who led Tottenham Hotspur from 2014 to 2019, was asked Monday about the charges ahead of the team's match against Chile.
"Why were those controls so strict with us and not as much with others? That's why I say everything is very strange, and the problem is that everything gets clouded. If it's true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit. No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done, and the Premier League's controls are severely damaged."Mauricio Pochettino, via ESPN
He has every right to be furious. His Tottenham squads were competing for trophies year in and year out while complying with financial regulations. Pochettino said this was even more difficult while the club was building a new stadium, going 18 months without signing a player. Manchester City, on the other hand, garnered over £900 million from no-show sponsorships, according to the Premier League's findings.
What does this mean for Cavan Sullivan?
The now-17-year-old signed a pre-agreement to join Manchester City when he turns 18 next year and is legally allowed to play in England, but these charges could change his outlook on the club. When he first signed, Sullivan said he loves watching City and the club is "every kid's dream team." While Sullivan has not said anything publicly about the ongoing situation, his agent, Dan Segal, has.
"It's true that there is a preliminary agreement with them regarding Sullivan, but you never know what can happen. We hope they manage to resolve everything in the best possible way.Dan Segal, via Yahoo! Sports
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It is unknown whether or not Sullivan's agreement would become void if Manchester City is penalized, and reports suggest some of the world's top clubs are already monitoring the situation. According to SPORT, Paris Saint-Germain, FC Barcelona, and Real Madrid are all interested in the midfielder.
A move to any of these clubs would put Sullivan in the same boat as at City: a prospect looking to prove himself on the bench, learning from the top talent in the world. Regardless, it is extremely promising to see such prolific clubs interested in an American player.
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