Premier League champions Manchester City were expected to sign experienced La Liga goalkeeper Asier Riesgo before landing Scott Carson instead.
Veteran goalkeeper Asier Riesgo has admitted to Diario de Girona that he thought he was about to become a Manchester City player this summer, only for a dream move to the Etihad Stadium to fall through.
With Ederson Moraes and Claudio Bravo providing Pep Guardiola with plenty of quality and experience between the sticks, Riesgo would have known that game-time would have been hard to come by at the Premier League champions.
But that didn’t put a 35-year-old free agent off the idea of potentially learning from the most respected and influential coach in the modern game as he enters the twilight of his playing career.
The former Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Eibar shot-stopper was on the verge of signing a contract with City, only to see a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity taken away from him.
“I was practically thinking that I was there (at City),” said Riesgo. “It broke down and in the end it was a very long summer.”
Riesgo will have to make do with joining Manchester City’s sister club Girona instead, a move he has described as a ‘lovely opportunity’.
The Catalan club are looking to bounce back to the top flight after finishing 18th in La Liga last season with Riesgo joined at the Montilivi by the likes of Samu Saiz, Jozabed and the prolific Cristhian Stuani.
City, meanwhile, ended the transfer window with former England international Scott Carson taking up the mantle of third-choice goalkeeper instead.
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