Once seen as one of the more exciting talents to come out of Belgium, Theo Bongonda’s career hasn’t gone the way many thought it would, at least so far.
Still only 23, the former U21 international has returned to his first club, Zulte Waregem, after a three year spell with Celta Vigo, which produced 77 appearances and two loans, one to his current club and one to Trabzonspor in Turkey.
What many might not know about Bongonda is that he was once a part of Manchester City’s academy, even if it was for the briefest of periods.
He told Sport/Foot: “I stayed a month over there with Jason, but when Zulte Waregem offered for me to join their first-team, I didn’t hesitate. Jason was a fan of Vincent Kompany. He saw that as an opportunity.
“I realised it would be very difficult to make it. Even if Jason never played in Manchester, he’s still one of the best players I know. It’s simple, he will be a starter for Belgium at the 2020 Euros.”
Even if he is currently back where he started, it seems hard to believe his career would have followed a more productive path had he stayed with Manchester City’s youth teams.
Scoring eight goals and picking up 10 assists in 28 league appearances, Bongonda, who resigned for Waregem back in 2018, is contracted there until 2022.
