Cardiff City: Mick McCarthy was bang on the money with confident 2021 transfer prediction | OneFootball

Mick McCarthy had his blunders at Cardiff City manager, but he was spot on with one famous prediction for Mark McGuinness

Mick McCarthy notably had his drawbacks during his 10-month reign at Cardiff City, but he nailed it when he predicted Mark McGuinness to evolve into a top player who would be worth "a hell of a lot of money".

Of course, the unpopular Irishman's tenure in south Wales ultimately ended in disarray when he was handed his marching orders following an infamous run of eight consecutive defeats, with Neil Warnock's Middlesbrough putting the final nail in the coffin in October 2021.

The start of his second campaign in the job was marred by myriad mistakes, such as his unwavering willingness to field five centre-backs at a time when Cardiff sorely lacked any form of attacking impetus and needed to be more positive and proactive in their play. It was a miserable few months, and it's still not lost on supporters to this day.

But, in a twist of irony, he came away with one saving grace in his final-ever press conference for the Bluebirds, where he made a confident claim on McGuinness which eventually paid off handsomely - for both him and the club.

Mick McCarthy's Cardiff City, Mark McGuinness transfer prediction

Ahead of the Middlesbrough match, McCarthy was quizzed by the press on young central defender McGuinness, who had made a positive start to his Cardiff career amid the club's plight following his arrival from Arsenal back in the summer.

The then-Bluebirds boss made little secret of his feelings towards McGuinness, tipping him for a big future at the Cardiff City Stadium and predicting that he would be worth a significant amount of money.

McCarthy told the press: "Whatever people are thinking about my reign and me, that is a damn good signing.

"He will be a really good player for the club and I hope he is one to drive the club forward.

"If not, I think he will be worth a hell of a lot of money in some time to come."

Mark McGuinness proved Mick McCarthy right at Cardiff City

It's fair to say that McGuinness has vindicated his old manager in the two years that have followed, as he went from strength-to-strength at Cardiff before earning a move to Luton Town in the summer.

The former Ipswich Town loanee made 35 appearances during his first season at the club, where he acclimatised to the increased demands of Championship football rather comfortably. Despite that, he was promptly loaned to Sheffield Wednesday in the following summer amid strong fan backlash, and the many supporters in McGuinness' corner were also proved right when he made a brief, but lasting impression back in League One.

McGuinness was so good for Wednesday during his half-season stay that Cardiff decided to recall him prematurely and he was an ever-present as they narrowly staved off relegation to the third-tier. McGuinness played 30 times in the Championship during his third and final season with the club before moving on back in the summer, joining newly-relegated Luton.

The transfer fee involved remains formally undisclosed - as does McGuinness' contract length at Luton - and WalesOnline reported that the deal is "some way short" of the £10 million figure that Cardiff were determined to hold out for. However, the Bluebirds will reportedly see the deal eventually rise to eight figures if various add-on criteria are met.

From afar, both Cardiff and McCarthy himself will surely be monitoring developments at Kenilworth Road, where McGuinness has endured a shaky start. The Bluebirds have largely struggled to make tangible player profits and return healthy fees in recent years, but they played a blinder with McGuinness by signing him in the first place and then selling him on for what will be hoped to represent a very significant fee in due course.

McCarthy, meanwhile, has undoubtedly been vindicated. He predicted that McGuinness would be a crucial player for Cardiff, which he arguably was in all of his three seasons at the club, and they're poised to receive a total eight-figure fee further down the line.