Manchester City player Oleksandr Zinchenko has revealed that the club kept him on an “academy contract” for the first three years of his time with the team, despite playing a significant role in two title-winning seasons. Zinchenko, who joined City in 2016 from Russian club Ufa, shared in his new book, ‘Believe’, that he was informed upon his arrival that he would be on youth-level wages until he made his breakthrough into the first team.
The Ukrainian footballer was even sent on loan to Dutch club PSV before returning to Manchester City, where he went on to win back-to-back Premier League titles under the management of Pep Guardiola. However, Zinchenko claimed that it wasn’t until June 2019 that he was finally offered a professional contract by the club, despite his contributions to the team’s success.
In his book, Zinchenko recounted how the City lawyers assured him that once he made his official debut for the team, his contract would be upgraded to a full professional one. He shared, “I won two Premier League titles playing on an academy contract,” highlighting the disparity between his performance on the field and his contractual situation off it.
Alongside shedding light on his contract struggles, Zinchenko also delved into an incident with his manager, Pep Guardiola, where he learned not to question the coach’s decisions. After a training session where Zinchenko spoke out against Guardiola, the defender found himself benched for the next game. Understanding his mistake, Zinchenko later apologised to Guardiola, ultimately strengthening their relationship.
Despite switching to Arsenal at the time of the treble-winning season for City, Guardiola reached out to Zinchenko to express his gratitude for the player’s past contributions. The phone call from Guardiola symbolised the respect and appreciation he had for Zinchenko, reflecting a positive turn in their professional relationship.
Zinchenko’s revelations offer a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and dynamics within a top-tier football club, showcasing the resilience and growth of a young player navigating his career amidst elite competition.