Manchester City supporters have delivered their verdict on Hugo Viana’s second summer transfer window, and the response suggests the Portuguese director of football may finally be winning over some of his biggest doubters.
A City Xtra discussion asked supporters whether Viana’s work in the 2026 summer window should be considered a success.
The responses showed a clear divide.
Some fans believe Viana has done an excellent job overseeing a major rebuild. Others remain concerned about the positions Manchester City failed to strengthen, particularly at right-back and in the backup striker role.
There is also a group that believes it is simply too early to make a final judgement.
However, one thing is clear from the reaction: the mood around Viana appears to have improved significantly.
One supporter described the window as a “Masterclass 10/10”, while another admitted: “I underrated him.”
That represents quite a turnaround for a director who faced criticism earlier in the summer.
Man City fans praise Hugo Viana’s summer work
Viana inherited an enormous responsibility when he replaced Txiki Begiristain as Manchester City’s director of football.
According to the City Xtra discussion, the Portuguese has overseen a significant rebuild of Pep Guardiola’s long-standing squad while also helping reduce the average age of the team. The club also spent heavily on new arrivals while raising substantial money through player sales.
Those changes have clearly caught the attention of City supporters.
One fan simply wrote: “Viana great job.”
Another described the summer as “a lovely one”, while a separate supporter said: “Perfect.”
There was also a short but emphatic response from another fan: “Thank u Hugo.”
These comments demonstrate that Viana is beginning to receive recognition for the scale of the work completed.
This was not simply a summer of adding one or two players.
Manchester City have attempted to reshape the squad for a new era under Enzo Maresca.
“We owe Hugo Viana an apology”
Perhaps the strongest endorsement came from a supporter who openly admitted that their opinion had changed.
The fan wrote:
“We owe Hugo Viana an apology.”
They explained that the criticism was understandable when the transfer window began because City appeared to be moving too slowly.
But the eventual business changed their perspective.
The supporter highlighted several arrivals, including Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Jérémy Doku? No — the reaction specifically referenced Anderson, Bouaddi, Allan, Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez, before concluding:
“10/10 window for me.”
That is significant because it captures the evolution of the summer.
Early transfer windows can create frustration when supporters are waiting for major announcements.
But Viana eventually helped deliver a series of high-profile moves.
The biggest statement was the signing of Enzo Fernandez, while the club also invested heavily in younger players as part of the wider rebuild.
City Xtra noted that the club transfer record was broken twice during the summer, underlining the scale of the investment.
Enzo Fernandez has changed the conversation
The arrival of Enzo Fernandez appears to have strengthened the perception that Viana received significant backing for Maresca.
The Argentina international is an established Premier League midfielder and arrives with major international honours behind him.
His signing represents a major financial commitment.
For supporters who wanted City to demonstrate ambition during the rebuild, Fernandez is exactly the type of statement signing they wanted to see.
One fan described Viana’s work as “Spectacular.”
Another simply said: “He did extremely well.”
There was also an 8/10 rating from Victor Talks Football.
That suggests the majority of positive reactions are not necessarily blind praise.
Many supporters still see room for improvement, but they believe Viana has done enough to earn credit.
Not everyone is convinced by Hugo Viana
Despite the positivity, there remains criticism.
One of the biggest concerns involves squad depth.
A supporter wrote: “No backup ST or RB were cooked.”
In other words, the fan believes Manchester City still failed to adequately address the backup striker and right-back positions.
Another supporter made a similar argument, saying City needed a right-back and another midfielder.
A separate reaction focused specifically on the right-back issue and questioned the lack of support for Nunez.
These concerns matter because a successful transfer window cannot simply be judged by the quality of incoming players.
Squad balance is equally important.
If City suffer injuries in key positions during the season, supporters may look back at the summer and question whether Viana should have done more.
“Needs to be better. Can’t leave it late again”
One particularly telling reaction said:
“Needs to be better. Can’t leave it late again.”
That comment reflects a different type of criticism.
The supporter was not necessarily dismissing Viana’s work.
Instead, they appear to be frustrated by the timing and uncertainty that surrounded parts of the transfer window.
City supporters have become accustomed to the club operating efficiently in the transfer market.
When deals drag on or important positions remain unresolved until late in the window, anxiety naturally increases.
Viana therefore faces an important challenge next summer.
He has shown that he can deliver major deals.
Now supporters want him to demonstrate that he can do so earlier and with fewer concerns over squad gaps.
Some fans are still keeping an eye on Viana
Not everyone has completely changed their opinion.
One supporter using the #VianaOUT label wrote:
“Hugo Viana I still have my eyes on you.”
That reaction is important because it demonstrates that positive transfer business does not automatically erase previous concerns.
Viana is still being judged.
For some supporters, the new arrivals have earned him more time. But they want to see results before declaring the rebuild a success.
And that is understandable.
Transfer windows are ultimately judged by what happens on the pitch.
A £100 million signing means little if the team fails to compete for major trophies.
The City Xtra discussion itself raises precisely that question, asking whether the level of investment should now mean Manchester City are expected to win the Premier League and seriously compete for the Champions League under Maresca.
Has Viana raised expectations for Maresca?
The biggest consequence of Viana’s transfer window may be the pressure it places on Maresca.
City Xtra noted that the director of football has provided the Italian manager with a fresh group of players while significantly reducing the average age of the squad.
That means there are fewer excuses for poor squad depth.
Maresca has inherited a team with substantial investment behind it.
There is also an exciting blend of established players and younger talent.
The challenge now is turning that potential into consistent performances.
City fans may accept a transitional season to some extent, particularly given the scale of the changes.
But the same supporters will also expect progress.
As one fan effectively suggested, City cannot afford to leave everything until the final stages again.
“I underrated him”
Perhaps the most revealing reaction came from a supporter who admitted:
“I underrated him.”
That short statement could eventually become the defining verdict on Viana.
When he arrived, replacing Begiristain was always going to be difficult.
Begiristain had been one of the most important figures behind City’s extraordinary period of success.
Viana therefore had to establish his own identity while dealing with an ageing squad and the departure of a manager who had defined an era.
The summer of 2026 has provided him with an opportunity to do exactly that.
He has overseen significant recruitment, major sales and a substantial change in the squad’s profile.
City Xtra’s assessment describes the rebuild as a clear demonstration of the club’s backing for Maresca.
That alone represents an important achievement.
The final judgement will come on the pitch
For all the excitement surrounding Manchester City’s transfer business, supporters know that the real verdict has not yet been delivered.
A 10/10 transfer window can quickly become a 6/10 campaign if the team struggles.
Likewise, concerns about missing a backup striker or right-back could disappear if City’s existing options remain fit and perform consistently.
That is why some supporters are already urging patience.
The rebuild is substantial.
Maresca needs time to implement his ideas.
The players need time to develop relationships.
And Viana needs time to demonstrate whether his recruitment strategy can deliver sustained success.
Still, the reaction to the City Xtra discussion is encouraging for the Portuguese director.
There are no longer simply complaints about a slow transfer window.
There is now genuine praise.
“Masterclass 10/10.”
“He did extremely well.”
“I underrated him.”
“Thank u Hugo.”
Those reactions show how quickly perceptions can change in football.
Hugo Viana has earned some credit — but the pressure remains
The overall verdict from Manchester City supporters appears to be increasingly positive.
Viana has overseen an expensive and ambitious rebuild, brought in several new faces and provided Maresca with a significantly refreshed squad.
Yet there are still concerns.
The lack of an obvious backup striker and questions around right-back depth remain important issues for some supporters.
There is also a wider expectation created by the money invested.
City are no longer simply rebuilding quietly.
They have made major statements in the transfer market.
Now the pressure moves from Viana’s office to Maresca’s dugout and the players on the pitch.
For now, however, the reaction suggests that Hugo Viana has moved from “prove yourself” territory to something much more positive.
The summer may not have been perfect.
But for many City supporters, it was good enough to change their minds.
And if the new-look Manchester City side starts lifting trophies, Viana’s critics may soon have very little left to complain about.
