Seen as one of the more astute Manchester City purchases for the future at the time, Enes Ünal was eventually sold this summer for €14m to Villarreal.
However, the reason behind the sale wasn’t anything to do with his ability or his potential.
After all, when sent on loan at FC Twente last season in Holland, the now 20-year-old scored 18 goals in 32 league appearances, as well as picking up four assists.
No, the reason behind his sale to Villarreal was because of work permit issues, as the player himself revealed on Friday in an interview with Marca.
Asked about whether or not he was frustrated at not being able to play for Manchester City, the player said: “No, because there’s a rule in England that to play in the Premier League, I need to have played 75% of my national team’s games in the past two years.
“They wanted to loan me again, and that meant changing team again, adapting all over again. That’s why I asked them to let me go. They let me do so with this offer, but with the option to buy me again.”
Buyback clauses are all the rage at Manchester City these days, as it appears Kelechi Iheanacho is set to leave under similar circumstances.
The Citizens clearly value the potential these players have, yet are very aware they need to play to develop their potential, but also seem to understand loans can be hard on them due to a lack of stability.
And with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Agüero both ahead of Ünal and Iheanacho in the pecking order, Manchester City isn’t the place for them to do that.
