It was one of those sliding door moments.
On 9 August 2018, Wolverhampton Wanderers had a £16 million bid accepted by Manchester City for Oleksandr Zinchenko (Sky Sports).
The young Ukrainian had made just six Premier League starts the previous season and, at the time, a move from the Etihad looked a no-brainer. Why sit on the bench at City when you can play week in, week out in the Old Gold of Wolves?
Eyebrows were raised, then, when Zinchenko opted to fight for his place under Pep Guardiola, turning down the chance to join the ambitious Molineux outfit.
Three years on, a decision that appeared questionable at the time now looks inspired.
Last night, Zinchenko played a starring role in one of Man City’s greatest moments. Alongside John Stones and the granite-carved Ruben Dias, the ever-reliable 24-year-old manned the barricades as Paris Saint-Germain hammered on the door.
It was easy to forget, as he flew into yet another perfectly timed block before being mobbed by grateful teammates on the snow-flecked Etihad turf, that Zinchenko isn’t even a left-back.
At least, not a natural left-back.
But you get the feeling the converted midfielder could play in goal and do a decent job.
Zinchenko is Guardiola’s man for all seasons and his performance in the 2-0 Champions League semi-final triumph over PSG felt like a coming of age moment for a man who’s finally getting the credit he deserves.
Here’s what some Man City fans had to say on Twitter about Zinchenko’s performance:
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