5 players you didn't know were in the Manchester City academy

Manchester City v FC Basel - UEFA Champions League Round of 16: Second Leg
Manchester City's academy is evolving!

Manchester City can presently boast of one of the finest academies in the world. One of the most lavishly-equipped, futuristic, and modern football academies, it is home to some of the world's brightest talents.

Behind this recent success, is a very well planned investment of £200 million solely for the academy. Each year, they have shown progression and the future looks promising.

This was perhaps proved right when they gave Barcelona's famous La Masia team a run for their money in the recently concluded UEFA Youth League semi-finals. Despite being reduced to ten men early in the first half, City battled with fearlessness, though they were eventually downed 4-5.

However, first team action has been limited for most of these young guns, with only Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz managing to break into the scene. Having said that, it is understandable because many experienced internationals would also struggle to make it into the present City squad.

Irrespective of the current scenario, it is interesting to note that Manchester City have housed talented players even before their financial power multiplied. Some of those players are stars at other clubs now, and it is perhaps baffling to know that they once wore the light blue of City, at least at the youth level.

Let us take a look at 5 such players:


#5 Denis Suárez (Barcelona)

Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona - Spanish Super Cup Final 1st Leg
Denis has struggled for minutes of late.

When Roberto Mancini signed Denis Suárez in 2011, scouts all around the world believed that the Mancunians had roped in a potentially world-class playmaker.

Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United were all desperate to land the young Spaniard, but were eventually beaten by the Cityzens. Suárez showed sublime skills while playing for the City EDS team, and was greatly loved by the fans. Many dreamt of him plying his trade alongside David Silva in City's midfield.

Unfortunately, it was difficult to break into a City squad desperately aiming for instant success. Despite being named City's Young Player of the Season in 2012, Denis felt his time was up, and left for Barcelona in 2013.

After a loan spell to Sevilla in 2014, Barcelona sold him to Villareal in 2015 and included a buy-back clause in the contract which they activated in the summer of 2016 to buy him back.

Unfortunately, the 24-year old is yet to cement his place in Barcelona's starting-XI. It is rare to see him start a match for the Catalans these days but nevertheless, his brilliance on the ball is easy to notice. In 24 appearances this season, he has scored 3 goals and also has 6 assists to his name.

#4 Ben Mee (Burnley)

Rangers v Burnley - Pre-Season Friendly
Ben Mee has been one of Burnley's most reliable players

The 28 year-old English defender might not have made a Premier League appearance for City, but he can be proud of his time with them. Mee was the captain of the Manchester City EDS team which won the FA Youth Cup in 2008.

He was rated highly by Roberto Mancini, and included him in City's pre-season trip to the United States. He played only one game for City in a Carling Cup game against West Brom..

Making it to the City senior squad was always Mee's aim, but the odds were slim, and he ended up moving to Burnley on a permanent basis in 2011.

He has made 246 appearances for Burnley in all competitions, scoring 6 goals. Mee is known for being gutsy and fearless at the back, giving it everything he has to prevent his team from conceding.

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#3 Loris Karius (Liverpool)

West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool - Premier League
After a tough start at Liverpool, Karius has regained his confidence

Karius was representing Germany U-16 against Azerbaijan in 2009 when he caught Manchester City's eye. He was invited to England, and was then signed by City in July 2009. But, unfortunately, he never came close to making it to their first team.

He later returned to Germany with Mainz, where he established himself as one of Bundesliga's best goalkeepers.

He had a stellar 2015-16 season, and was voted as the league's best goalkeeper after Manuel Neuer. This led Liverpool to sign the German in the summer of 2016. He struggled initially, and had to play second-fiddle to Simon Mignolet.

Those shaky days seem to be over, as Karius has become Liverpool's first choice under Jurgen Klopp over the course of the current season. He has slowly started showing what he is capable of and has kept 14 clean sheets in 27 games this campaign.

Still only 24, he has a bright future ahead of him and perhaps we are yet to see the best out of the German.

#2 Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)

Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur - The Emirates FA Cup Semi Final
Trippier representing Spurs in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United

Similar to former teammate Ben Mee, Trippier too was an integral part of the City EDS squad that emerged triumphant in the 2008 FA Youth Cup. He, too, was part of the first team squad that toured the US in the summer of 2010, and he also made an appearance against Barcelona in a friendly.

However, he failed to represent City's first team in any official match. This was largely because City, back then, had two of the best performing right-backs in the Premier League in Pablo Zabaleta, and academy product Micah Richards.

For all of Trippier's menacing runs and deadly crosses, it was still going to be difficult to break into the first-team and earn himself a starting spot.

Trippier followed Mee to Burnley, where he made a name for himself. Making 170 league appearances for The Clarets, he also scored 5 goals which included some long-range stunners.

He had a magical 2014-15 season, galloping down the right wing for Burnley and whipping in quality crosses consistently. His brilliant performances were rewarded in the summer of 2015, when he earned himself a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

He has continued to perform well for Spurs, and has provided stiff competiton for fellow right-back Serge Aurier. In 32 appearances in all competitions this season, he has chipped in with 8 assists.

#1 Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris Saint-Germain v RSC Anderlecht - UEFA Champions League
Rabiot is one of PSG's biggest assets

It is surprising, to say the least, that Adrien Rabiot who is one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe, was once a member of the Manchester City academy.

Rabiot toured as many as six academies, including that of City's, before settling at PSG, where he went on to break into the first-team squad.

Although he only remained in City for a few months in 2008, he was indeed officially in the Man City EDS roster. Imagine how different things would have been had Rabiot stayed at the Manchester club!

Now, at 23 years old, he is a regular at one of the strongest teams in the world and is slowly modelling himself to become a future great. He has already played more than 200 games for the French outfit and has helped them to win four league titles.

He has also earned a call-up to the French national team and made his debut for the country in November 2016.

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Edited by Ashwin Asok