Antoine Semenyo's meteoric rise from being rejected by some of the biggest clubs in England to becoming a prized signing for Manchester City is a cautionary tale about the limitations of scouting systems. Despite being touted as one of the most promising young players coming out of the lower divisions, Semenyo found himself passing through the ranks of Fulham, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Millwall, Reading and Tottenham before eventually getting his break at Bournemouth.
The 26-year-old winger's journey to stardom was not without its twists and turns. After taking a year off from the game as a teenager due to a series of setbacks, Semenyo began to rebuild his career under former Leeds and Forest Green manager David Hockaday. The Londoner's talent eventually caught the eye of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who gave him a chance to shine before making the move to Manchester City.
Semenyo's arrival at City comes at a time when the club is looking to strengthen its squad and provide a long-throw specialist, something that is currently lacking in Guardiola's team. The signing also signals a major coup for Bournemouth, who have consistently punched above their weight by spotting talent like Semenyo and turning them into world-class players.
The question now is how much of a game-changer Semenyo will be at City? His ability to play off either flank, lead the press and score crucial goals makes him an exciting addition to any team. However, he also brings up concerns about whether he can maintain his form over a longer period. Having turned 26, Semenyo is now at the stage of his career where potential hits its peak, making it essential for City to give him the support he needs to thrive.
While Bournemouth's owner Bill Foley has ambitions to take the club into Europe on an annual basis, there is still a delicate balance between profitability and sustainability regulations that need to be maintained. With wages-to-revenue ratio still hovering around 71%, it remains to be seen whether City can provide Semenyo with the support he needs without breaking the bank.
One thing is certain, however - Antoine Semenyo's arrival at Manchester City marks a major coup for Bournemouth and their scouting system, which continues to prove its worth in finding hidden gems. Whether Semenyo will become a suitable replacement for Mohamed Salah or another key player remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he is now part of the City squad that has been touted as one of the best teams in Europe.
The 26-year-old winger's journey to stardom was not without its twists and turns. After taking a year off from the game as a teenager due to a series of setbacks, Semenyo began to rebuild his career under former Leeds and Forest Green manager David Hockaday. The Londoner's talent eventually caught the eye of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who gave him a chance to shine before making the move to Manchester City.
Semenyo's arrival at City comes at a time when the club is looking to strengthen its squad and provide a long-throw specialist, something that is currently lacking in Guardiola's team. The signing also signals a major coup for Bournemouth, who have consistently punched above their weight by spotting talent like Semenyo and turning them into world-class players.
The question now is how much of a game-changer Semenyo will be at City? His ability to play off either flank, lead the press and score crucial goals makes him an exciting addition to any team. However, he also brings up concerns about whether he can maintain his form over a longer period. Having turned 26, Semenyo is now at the stage of his career where potential hits its peak, making it essential for City to give him the support he needs to thrive.
While Bournemouth's owner Bill Foley has ambitions to take the club into Europe on an annual basis, there is still a delicate balance between profitability and sustainability regulations that need to be maintained. With wages-to-revenue ratio still hovering around 71%, it remains to be seen whether City can provide Semenyo with the support he needs without breaking the bank.
One thing is certain, however - Antoine Semenyo's arrival at Manchester City marks a major coup for Bournemouth and their scouting system, which continues to prove its worth in finding hidden gems. Whether Semenyo will become a suitable replacement for Mohamed Salah or another key player remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he is now part of the City squad that has been touted as one of the best teams in Europe.
He's literally proof that scouting systems can go wrong like what if they didn't give him a chance at Bournemouth? Now he's at Man City and it's crazy to think he could be the answer to their long throw specialist problem 
But on the flip side, 26 is old for a footballer, you know? He needs to be healthy and consistent or it'll be all over... but fingers crossed for him 
he seems like such an exciting player too, his ability 2 play off either flank & score crucial goals is insane! but yeah i guess the thing 2 worry about is whether he can maintain his form over a longer period... now he's 26 so u have 2 wonder if he's still got that fire in him 