The wunderkind has finally landed.
Leroy Sane, 20, has completed his move from Schalke 04 to Manchester City for $49 million and has signed a five-year contract at City.
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The German international winger has been chased by City all summer and finally Pep Guardiola has his man with one of the most promising wingers in world soccer arriving at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking to City’s website about signing for the Premier League side, Sane is eager to get started in England.
“I feel really good, I’m happy to be here and happy that it has all worked out. Now I can settle here in Manchester and play for City. One of the reasons I decided to join City was Pep Guardiola; he convinced me to come here and that I can continue to progress. I know I will learn a lot under him and now I can take the next step in my career,” Sane said. “I followed Pep at Barcelona and at Bayern where he achieved a lot and worked really well with young players. I think he can make me a more complete player. I think I will need a bit of time to start with because it’s another league and there’s a different style of play but I think I can adapt very quickly.”
A produce of Schalke’s famed academy — Mesut Ozil, Manuel Neueur, Julian Draxler and Max Meyer are just a few of the stars to come through the ranks — Sane seems to have the complete package.
At six-foot he’s an imposing attacker but he also has good pace, sublime dribbling skills and is very good on the ball and in Soccerex’s recent study of the most valuable players on the planet under 21, he came in second behind Anthony Martial. He scored eight times and added six assists in 23 Bundesliga starts for Schalke last season which was his second full campaign as a pro. Sane also went to EURO 2016 as part of Germany’s squad and is a rising star of German soccer.
His new manager knows him well from his time managing Bayern Munich over the past three years and Guardiola gave his opinion on Sane as a player.
“He is a special talent, and an exciting player that I think our supporters will enjoy watching,” Guardiola said. “He has great technical ability, is comfortable on the ball and there is much to admire about the way he plays football. He is fast, enjoys creating chances for others, works hard for the team and scores goals, too. He also has a very positive attitude and will fit in well with our squad.”
With Nolito and Ilkay Gundogan the other major arrivals at City this summer, Guardiola is starting to stamp his authority on this squad. In the coming days John Stones is also expected to arrive in a deal worth over $65 million and then Pep’s revolution will be in full swing. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri may be slightly worried about their futures at City following Sane’s arrival as Guardiola now has an embarrassment of riches in wide-attacking areas.
At Bayern and Barcelona he built teams which could interchanged fluidly in the attacking positions and with Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and now Sane on board, he’s doing the same at City.
The Spanish coach is eager to work with young, hungry and talented players and City’s ownership is throwing their full backing behind him to help City become title challengers in the Premier League and in Europe.
Snapping up Sane is a sign that City means business under Guardiola.
