Loaned then sold to AS Roma from Manchester City, Edin Dzeko has completely reinvented his image in Serie A over the past 12 months.
Following a poor first season where he scored just 10 goals in 39 appearances, the Bosnian striker showed the world exactly what he was still capable of this year by finding the back of the net 39 times and assisting his teammates 15 times in 51 appearances in all competitions.
Leaving the Etihad after one of his worst seasons as a footballer, Dzeko never got to play under Pep Guardiola, even if his profile wouldn’t have suited the Spaniard’s system, and blames his exit from the club on Manuel Pellegrini’s two-facedness.
Speaking to So Foot in France this month, the 31-year-old explained: “That’s why I left. I don’t like to look back, but when your manager says something and does things differently, obviously it doesn’t go down well.
“I’m someone who looks for honesty. You can’t lie to a player. For a group to work, it’s the only way forward, but you also need character.”
Despite labelling Dzeko a ‘very important player’ for Manchester City, the Chilean manager only started the Bosnian 18 times in his final season in the Premier League.
During his time in the north of England, the former Wolfsburg star scored 72 goals and picked up 39 assists in 189 appearances.
