Manchester City wanted to sell Zinchenko before his move to Arsenal

Manchester City coach, Pep Guardiola has revealed that they had plans to sell Oleksandr Zinchenko before his move to Arsenal.

Speaking ahead of a top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal, Guardiola revealed that Zinchenko was told his minutes would be reduced after a poor run in the 2019-20 season. He disclosed that the Ukrainian defender decided to stay and fight for his place rather than accept an exit at the time.

Guardiola said;

“Everybody is in love [with him] at City. He was an important figure in our club. What I like most about Alex is in the first years, we maybe wanted to move him from here because we thought he wasn’t going to play much. He said, ‘No, I want to fight for my position!’ I said, ‘Alex, it’s difficult, I have many players in your position.’ He said, ‘No, I’m going to play here.’ He trained really well, never had a bad face, aspiring when he plays, always had good behaviour.

“Normally when you don’t play, you don’t say you’re going to play and say, ‘Ah I don’t want to do it’. He was completely the opposite, seeing him in the gym working extra-time.”