Oleksandr Zinchenko’s agent says his client is reaping the benefits after deciding to stick with reigning Premier League champions Manchester City. Zinchenko joined City in July 2016 from FC Ufa for around £2million and he was immediately loaned out to Dutch giants PSV for the 2016/17 campaign, where he featured 12 times in the Eredivisie.
The Ukraine international did break into the Citizens’ senior side for the 2017/18 season, making eight Premier League appearances, and there were enough positives from those performances to keep him in the first-team loop.
Having battled with England international Fabian Delph for the left-back spot last season, the 22-year-old eventually cemented himself in the position in the second half of the campaign, playing in 14 league matches.
Zinchenko has featured in all but one of City’s top-flight games this term but it could have been all-so different had a move to Serie A outfit Napoli materialised.
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The Partenopei were claimed to have shown an interest in the Ukrainian over the past couple of transfer windows but City resisted the temptation to sell the versatile defender.
Although admitting a move to Italy could happen in the future, Zinchenko’s agent insists his client is enjoying life in England and is hoping to win more trophies with the blue side of Manchester. “Zinchenko in the past near Napoli? In hindsight, we can say that staying in Manchester City was the right choice,” he told Radio Marte.
“We are grateful to Guardiola for the chance he gave the boy to develop and play. Zinchenko renewed last summer with City and is focused on the English club, he wants to win many trophies.”
City return to domestic action on Saturday evening when they make the trip to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace, who beat West Ham United 2-1 last time out to extend their unbeaten run in the league to three matches.
Pep Guardiola’s men lost 2-0 at home to Wolves prior to the international break and already sit eight points behind table-toppers Liverpool.
