Oleksandr Zinchenko, the former Manchester City defender, has shared an unexpected story about his early years at the Etihad.

Despite being part of a team that clinched back-to-back Premier League titles, Zinchenko revealed that he spent his first three seasons on an academy contract.

This meant he earned far less than star teammates like Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero, and Kevin De Bruyne, even though he was making significant contributions on the field.

Delayed Professional Earnings

Zinchenko, who joined City in 2016, explained that he wasn’t on “full professional money” until he had played 43 Premier League matches.

Initially, he was reassured by the club’s legal team that his contract would be upgraded once he broke into the first team.

However, he remained on a junior deal, earning a fraction of what his peers were making.

It wasn’t until City completed their historic 2018-19 domestic treble that Zinchenko, then 22, was finally rewarded with a full professional contract.

Reflecting on His Time with Pep Guardiola

In his new book, Believe, Zinchenko recalls a heated moment during training with manager Pep Guardiola.

Frustrated after being called out for a single misplaced pass, Zinchenko responded: “Mister! Like, I just did one wrong pass, you know?”

Guardiola’s reaction was immediate and stern. The session was abruptly ended, with Guardiola sarcastically apologizing before walking off the pitch.

Zinchenko found himself benched for the next game but later apologized, and the incident didn’t damage their relationship in the long term.

A Strong Bond with His Former Manager

Despite the clash, Zinchenko says his relationship with Guardiola only grew stronger.

The two remained close even after Zinchenko’s move to Arsenal in 2022.

In a touching gesture, Guardiola called Zinchenko on the night Manchester City secured their famous 2023 treble, thanking him for his years of contribution to the club.