Barcelona, Inter Milan and Celtic all wanted me, but I stayed at Manchester City despite relegation for one key reason.
Georgi Kinkladze, one of the best-loved cult heroes in Premier League history, is still adored at Manchester City and the feeling is mutual.
For younger readers, there was a time when the four-time Premier League winners weren't very good, but thanks to Kinkladze, they had something to smile about.
From 1995 to 1998, when the Georgian attacking midfielder played for Sky Blue, City He went from the top category to the third and was the only one who gave joy to the grieving fans.
With 22 goals in 121 games, it was clear that he was too good to stay in Manchester, especially when European giants like Barcelona and Inter Milan They were snooping.
However, Kinkladze did exactly that, explaining to talkSPORT that it was the fans who made him hang around.
When asked why he turned down clubs as big as Celticresponded: “Because I loved the club and the fans so much that I never thought twice about it, I decided to stay.
“I loved playing for City and whenever I have free time I go back. Almost 30 years ago, in 1995, I played for City, but I always have a warm welcome here.
“I never felt like a foreigner, it is my second home and I am very, very happy about it.”
His unique style also made him a legend outside of Manchester, and Kinkladze believes it is down to the skill he displayed week after week.
“It's not the same as before,” he explained. “I don't know. I think the way I played football at the time, there weren't that many skilled players in the Premier League and there weren't that many foreigners, so I think maybe it was something special.”
Almost three decades have passed and City are now a team any player would dream of playing for, winning every trophy on offer with some of the best players in world football.
However, despite a European treble in 2023 and a record four-year Premier League winning streak, things they have gone badly this quarter.
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Pep Guardiola's team has been left out of the title race and even risks missing the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
With just one win and seven defeats in ten games, City go into the Manchester derby in their worst form in years, but Kinkladze remains confident, thanks to the man he calls “The best manager in the world.”
Speaking about recent results, he said: “This is football, you know, it happens, but I think it will end on Sunday… I'm excited, I think we'll win 3-1.
“I think they are the best team in Europe for me, because of how they play with possession and how they try to win the ball back as soon as they lose it. “They play attacking football, so they are a great team with great players.”
Adding why he is so excited, he concluded: “This game is always personal for me.
“In my time manchester united “They were dominating English football and we were always losing, now it is a pleasure for me to see how they are doing.”
