Guardiola not interested in one of Man City signing Semenyo’s qualities

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted that he is not interested in new signing Antoine Semenyo’s long throw-in ability.

Semenyo’s move to the Etihad from Bournemouth in a £64 million deal has now been confirmed.

City fought off interest from rivals including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea to land his signature.

Currently third in the golden boot race with 10 goals, as well as tallying five assists, the Ghana international will evidently bring a lot of attacking threat to Manchester.

But his long throw-in is not something that is top of Guardiola’s priorities.

“I have many thousands other priorities than that,” Guardiola said of Semenyo’s long throw-ins.

Andoni Iraola had utilised the winger’s long throw-ins at Bournemouth, but it seems he will be relieved of those duties in his new side.

The Catalan continued: “It’s not a big issue to make the team improve.

“It’s a detail, we think about it, we talk about it, but that’s the point.

“The amount of time that we have, that is no time, because obviously we have a lot of games every three days, three days, three days.

“You have to choose the priorities, and priorities will not be long throws, I’m sorry.

“Maybe in time, one day, we’ll talk about it, but there are things more and more important to make the team grow as a team.”

It has not been a simple journey to the top for Semenyo, who played in every division of the EFL.

Guardiola reflected: “The setbacks, the difficulties make every player, not just Antoine, make the players who they are.

“It’s worth it to be stubborn.To dig in, dig in. And at the end look what happened.

“Maybe now he feels, ‘oh I’m going to play in the Champions League’.

“And this enthusiasm, this passion to play European competitions. That is extraordinary and we have to take it.

“Everything is about passion and love in life. And he will bring us.”