Manchester City wanted to sell Zinchenko before his move to Arsenal – Guardiola

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.”