Pep’s new boy is living dream after Cherries heart-Ake
NATHAN AKE is the only member of Manchester City’s squad to have ever been relegated.
The Dutchman, 25, woke up from his nightmare season with Bournemouth to realise a dream £41million move to become part of Pep Guardiola’s plans. And Ake hopes to use the experience in the same way Holland team-mate Gini Wijnaldum became a Champions League and Premier League winner with Liverpool after suffering the big drop with Newcastle in 2016. Whatever happens, the centre-back insists he has nothing to prove as he takes another step in a career that saw him quit the Feyenoord youth system to join Chelsea when he was still a schoolboy. He then spent four years helping Eddie Howe’s Cherries punch above their weight.
Ake said: “I have not signed for City thinking I can prove the critics wrong.
“I have already proved to myself that I have the ability to play at the top level – and I love a challenge. “I showed that when I was a kid playing in my hometown in the Hague and I moved to Rotterdam to join Feyenoord.
“I showed it again when I moved to Chelsea. I have had to working incredibly hard to make it to the top – and I know I am ready. I have also achieved my dream of playing for Holland.”
The Sky Blues began monitoring Ake two seasons ago and were on the verge of making a bid last summer.
When left-footed Aymeric Laporte suffered a knee injury that kept him out for most of the campaign, it was to prove a critical decision.
While Liverpool took the title to Anfield, Ake was part of a Bournemouth defence that conceded 65 goals on the way down.
He said: “I was desperate to keep Bournemouth up – and we failed.
“We allowed too many goals against us.
“Yet people judged my individual performances as all right. Maybe that is ability and experience, to make sure you keep your own level up.”
Ake was on holiday in France when the call came from City.
Guardiola had spoken to Dutch coach Ronald Koeman and the message back from the man who has just been made boss of Barcelona was that Ake was the real deal.
Ake said: “I had to pinch myself. I was thinking, ‘Is this real?’
“Manchester City are one of the best clubs in the world and Pep Guardiola one of the best managers.
“I have been told to focus on several positions at the back.
“I am going for it. I have grown up in the Premier League in a brilliant way.”