Semenyo's £64m City move vindicated as Dickov compares his adaptation to Haaland's critics

Antoine Semenyo has silenced any doubts about his £64m January move from Bournemouth to Manchester City, with former City striker Paul Dickov arguing the Ghanaian winger’s rapid integration into Pep Guardiola’s system is the most impressive thing about his debut half-season at the club.

Semenyo opened his City account on the left flank against Exeter City, scoring with his right foot, and went on to register 11 goals and three assists in 27 appearances. His most significant contribution came at Wembley last month, where a sensational second-half finish sealed the FA Cup against Chelsea. Alongside defender Marc Guehi, his arrival is credited with galvanising City’s second half of the season.

“He’s been incredible since he came in,” Dickov said. “Obviously, people look to the assists and, more so, the important goals that he scored. But for me, the most impressive thing is how he settled in so quickly.”

Dickov drew on City’s history to underline just how difficult that feat is. “Historically, especially for forward players and wide players, it’s really difficult to go into a Pep Guardiola team and a Pep Guardiola system, where tactically it’s probably a million miles away from what they’ve been used to before,” he said. “Bernardo Silva, when he first came in, struggled. Rodri struggled; it took Raheem Sterling time to do it. Riyad Mahrez, Sergio Aguero — when Pep first came in, he had to adapt his game. And these were all proven world-class players at the time.”

“I don’t want to be disrespectful, but coming from Bournemouth, or from any club to go into a system that Pep Guardiola wants to play was probably completely different. It usually takes players two, three months, sometimes a season to settle in. So the fact that he came in and did it so quickly is the most impressive thing about him.”

Dickov also addressed the criticism directed at Erling Haaland this season, despite the Norwegian claiming the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time in four seasons with 27 goals. “He set the standard high in his first season, scoring 52 goals, which was obscene when you think about it,” Dickov said, suggesting Haaland would use the scrutiny as motivation heading into next season.