‘It was nice because we could say goodbye properly’: Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hails Oleksandr Zinchenko ahead of the Ukraine international’s £32m move to Arsenal after six years at the Etihad
- Oleksandr Zinchenko’s move to Arsenal is expected to be completed shortly
- He is set leave Manchester City for £32million after six seasons at the club
- Pep Guardiola says it was ‘nice’ to be able to properly say goodbye to Zinchenko
- He will join Gabriel Jesus at the Gunners, while Raheem Sterling has also left
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has praised the effort Oleksandr Zinchenko has always shown for his team as the Ukraine international closes in on a move to Arsenal.
Zinchenko is set to join the Gunners, who like City are on a pre-season tour in the United States, with the formalities of the transfer expected to be completed shortly.
A fee of around £32million is reported to have been agreed for the versatile 25-year-old, who can operate at left-back and in midfield.
Pep Guardiola says it was ‘nice’ to say goodbye to Oleksandr Zinchenko after six years
Zinchenko has been training with the City squad ahead of his imminent departure to Arsenal
Ahead of City’s pre-season friendly against Club America in Texas, Guardiola revealed Zinchenko would depart with the club’s best wishes for the next chapter in his career, as he reunites with his former team-mate Gabriel Jesus in north London.
‘On behalf of the club (I would like to express) gratitude for the effort, how they behave on and off the pitch. It was nice with Alex yesterday because we could say goodbye properly,’ Guardiola said at a press conference.
‘Unfortunately with Raheem (Sterling) and Gabriel we could not do it because it was the summertime, but yesterday we could say goodbye to him and (he can) move on to Arsenal.’
Zinchenko, joined City during 2016 from Russian side Ufa, will work again with manager Mikel Arteta, who was assistant to Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said he could not properly say goodbye to Raheem Sterling or Gabriel Jesus
Zinchenko will reunite with former Man City assistant manager Mikel Arteta at the Gunners
The Ukrainian had been with City at their base in Houston, but has now headed off to complete…