There has been real confusion around the goalkeeping situation at City this summer too.
Speaking in June, Guardiola said the two keepers they have – Ederson and Stefan Ortega – “will continue”, with both going on to play at the Club World Cup in the USA.
Having not seemingly been in the market for a new keeper, City then ended up signing three.
Marcus Bettinelli was brought in to cover the departure of Carson, while City had matching rights on Newcastle’s £27m bid for Burnley’s James Trafford, and the club felt the prospect of re-signing the Englishman was too good to turn down.
Ederson, meanwhile, went from being declared Guardiola’s number one, external before the opening Premier League game against Wolves to being shipped off to Fenerbahce a mere 18 days later.
In came Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris St-Germain on deadline day after the Italy number one was brutally axed by Luis Enrique, despite helping the club to the Treble last season.
Despite being deemed surplus to requirements, Ortega remains at the Etihad too, having turned down options to leave, meaning Guardiola has four first-team keepers on the books.
“A lot of people didn’t really understand the true value of Ederson because his shot-stopping is great, but his ability to get on the ball and to be the spare player that can create something,” former City defender Nedum Onuoha told ‘s Football Focus.
“Now he’s gone, the people who are trying to fill those boots won’t be able to do it in the same way.
“From a City perspective, if their goalkeeper continues to get pressed and make those sorts of errors, it will encourage the opposition and change how City play.”
It is hard to envisage Donnarumma being signed to sit on the bench, which leaves Trafford in a situation where he thought he was coming in as the long-term heir to Ederson, but instead playing second fiddle to the towering Italian.
Despite being only 26, Donnarumma brings vast experience as an elite, match-winning keeper with incredible shot-stopping ability, and he now has the opportunity to showcase his talents in England.
“He is so tall; he is so huge,” Guardiola said. “[From] all the keepers we want safe balls, give confidence to the team, have personality and a big presence.
“In the biggest stages in the Champions League last season, at Villa Park, Anfield and in many games, he proved how good he is.”
With United also experiencing difficulties in between the sticks, they signed Belgian Sanne Lammens on deadline day, but Amorim confirmed Altay Bayindir will start in goal on Sunday.
