Nathan Ake was recently asked about his future at Manchester City after struggling for playing time this season, but he responded in a defiant tone and insists he’ll fight for his place next season.
The 27-year-old is not throwing in the towel at the Etihad Stadium and will expect to be a City player ahead of the 2022/23 campaign unless he hears differently.
Ake told NOS: “I was taught at a young age that you should always keep going and never give up. That your chance can come again. And that is now the case. I will go into the season with that intention (of staying at City). I will do everything I can to play even more.”
The Netherlands international joined City on a five-year deal from Bournemouth and has made just 40 appearances across the board, scoring four goals. Ake missed a lot of football due to injuries and found himself behind Ruben Dias, John Stones and Aymeric Laporte in the pecking order as a result, so his chances of featuring heavily next season are slim.
The 27-year-old amassed little over 900 minutes of Premier League football and started only 19 games from a possible 57 (30%), so there has been talk of him leaving this summer for more playing time. City may struggle to make back most of the £40m spent two years ago, however, so Ake may indeed stay.
Ake’s optimism over playing time next season might be misguided, however, as it would take something special for him to dethrone one of Stones, Dias or Laporte.
In other news, here’s why Pep Guardiola is unlikely to sign £59.7m man as 27 y/o’s replacement