The son of Manchester City icon Uwe Rosler, Colin Rosler, has revealed he had to leave the club over a perceived lack of chances for youngsters.
Rosler senior is something of a cult icon at Manchester City, having been a firm fan favourite during a five-year spell in the mid-nineties.
Indeed, such is his affiliation with the club his two sons are named after City icons Colin Bell and Tony Book.
Of those sons, Colina, defender, had hoped to enjoy a similarly successful time at the club as his father, joining them as a youngster and steadily making his way up to the under 23s.
However, their relationship came to an end last year when he made a free transfer to NAC Breda, something he says he was forced to do to help his career.
“I always thought about how special it would be to play for Manchester City. I am very happy that this has come true,” he told Voetbalzone.
“I have seen City evolve. When I came, we were still training on Platt Lane. That was a rough area of Manchester. Today’s training complex is one of the best in the world; the club has changed enormously.
“I think it is more difficult to make it to the first team with few clubs in the world. That chance is just very, very small.
“I realised that I wouldn’t make it fast, so it was better to play in a first-team elsewhere rather than train with City as a player of the U23 from time to time.”
Now Rosler is focused on establishing himself in the Netherlands and has found himself as a first-team regular this season after the departure of Jan Paul van Hecke.
The Dutch league is a renowned breeding ground for young talent, with a long, long line of players having established themselves there before moves elsewhere.
That is something Rosler was more than aware of, citing the current success of Manchester City’s Angeliño, who is shining on loan at RB Leipzig as a reason for the move.
“During my youth, I played against many Dutch clubs and a year before my arrival I played a practice match against NAC with City,” he said.
“I have spoken to several boys who have played in the Netherlands, especially those who have been leased by City to NAC.
“They were very positive about the club, the supporters, the league and the city; I heard that this is a good place for young players.
“Angeliño is, of course, a great example for everyone. He is now doing very well at RB Leipzig and has shown how you can have a great career from here on.”
Angeliño is indeed something of an example for Rosler, the Spaniard having left City in 2018 before returning a year later after impressing with PSV Eindhoven.
He was a regular under Pep Guardiola for the next six months before a surprise loan move to Germany in January where he has since flourished.
The key part is that he returned to the Etihad after leaving, though, and Rosler admits he would like to do the same.
“Of course it would be a dream to return to City one day,” he added.
“If you had asked me about my dream as a kid, I probably would have answered that I wanted to play for City.
“At the moment I just focus on myself, I work hard at NAC, and then we’ll see what the future will bring.”
