Search icon

Football

01st Jan 2019

Former Man City youngster says his old club treat players like ‘merchandise’

Simon Lloyd

Javairo Dilrosun spent four years at Manchester City

Former Manchester City youngster Javairo Dilrosun has claimed his old club treat players like ‘merchandise’.

Dilrosun joined City’s academy from Ajax in 2014 but left for Hertha Berlin at the end of the 2017/18 season after accepting he wouldn’t be able to break into the first team at the Etihad. The 20-year-old has managed 12 appearances for the Bundesliga club this season, enough to earn himself a call-up for the rejuvenated Dutch national side in November, where he played in the Nations League draw with Germany.

Though speaking very highly of Pep Guardiola, Dilrosun made clear that he was less than impressed with the lack of opportunities available to him and other youngsters in Manchester.

“City are like a company,” he told ELF Voetbal . “Players are their merchandise.

“I didn’t really speak much face to face with Guardiola, but I’ve learned so much from just watching him.

“He gave some great advice that made me a better player – details about my first touch for example.

“And he’s a very capable of explaining his tactics to his players.”

Dilrosun, of course, isn’t the only City youngster to leave the club for Germany in recent times. A year earlier, Jadon Sancho decided against prolonging his stay at the Etihad in favour of a move to Borussia Dortmund – flourishing at the club and establishing himself as an England international.

Brahim Diaz, another City youngster tipped for great things, is also reportedly nearing a departure from the club, with a move to Real Madrid expected to be finalised in the January transfer window.