I went to sign a new Man City contract but came out knowing I had no future - now I've won the Bundesliga
He could be the one who got away - and maybe even one who returns in the future.
Jeremie Frimpong came through the Manchester City academy after arriving at the age of 10 and represented the club all the way up to under-23 level. He started the prestigious FA Youth Cup final in 2019, and his name is proudly displayed on the walls of the City Football Academy as an example of an academy graduate who has gone on to play international football.
However, right-winger Frimpong knew his time was up at City the moment he went to discuss a new contract in 2019. Five years on and he is a Bundesliga champion, a Dutch international, and a reported transfer target of both City and Manchester United - having held talks with the latter last year.
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Frimpong was at the heart of celebrations this weekend as his Leverkusen side broke Bayern Munich's 11-year hold on the Bundesliga title with an incredible unbeaten campaign so far. He has featured in all but two of Bayer's league fixtures so far, and has played a key role in their run to the Europa League quarter-finals.
In part thanks to his 12 goals and 11 assists, an unbeaten treble remains on the cards for Leverkusen, and Frimpong made headlines by appearing to mock Arsenal during Sunday's jubilant dressing room celebrations.
Incoming Academy Director Thomas Krucken, who joined from Stuttgart this season, remarked in an exclusive interview with MEN Sport that he had no idea that Frimpong had come through City's Select system when watching him make his name in Germany.
His former youth coach told MEN