Arsenal star Zinchenko makes shock Man City allegation

Tom Weber

Updated: 22 Oct 2024 17:19 BST
3 min read

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal, 2024/25 — © IMAGO

Oleksandr Zinchenko has claimed that Manchester City kept him on an academy deal until he had made 43 senior appearances for the club.

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The Ukraine international left the Etihad for Arsenal in 2022, becoming a vital cog in Mikel Arteta's side after winning a whopping four Premier League titles with Man City.

In recent times, the 27-year-old's influence in the Gunners' side has waned and Arsenal would be open to selling the versatile defender if a suitable offer were to arrive, as revealed by FootballTransfers ahead of the summer window.

Zinchenko has been nursing a calf injury since September and, writing in his new book 'Believe,' he has now made some quite surprising revelations regarding his time at Man City.

Zinchenko kept on academy deal

Recounting the moment he signed for the Manchester giants from Russian side Ufa in 2016, Zinchenko alleged that the club's representatives lied to him about his contract.

"The City lawyers said: 'Look, this is an academy player contract, right? As soon as you make your first official game for City, we're going to extend your contract with the real money that we pay full professionals. Not this academy player deal. So trust us.' Of course, I said yes. Follow the dream.

"But do you know when my next contract came? The one that put me on full professional money? After I had played 43 games in the Premier League! I won two Premier League titles playing on an academy contract," he wrote.

Zinchenko would go on to make 128 senior appearances under Pep Guardiola. However, he also reveals in his book that he had a run-in with his manager that led to him getting benched at one point.

"Out loud I said: 'Mister! Like, I just did one wrong pass, you know?' And his reaction was incredible. 'Oh, OK, sorry, sorry, Mr Zinchenko. Sorry,' said Pep. 'OK, guys, thank you, everyone inside.' And he went in, walked to the changing room. Training over, all because I talked back. I knew I was in trouble."