I turned down Manchester City transfer to play at AFCON 2008 – Asamoah Gyan

Ghana’s all-time top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, says his decision to play at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) cost him a move to English Premier League giants Manchester City.

Gyan, who at the time was playing for Italian Serie A side Udinese, was far from his best as he struggled with injury and fitness concerns which also drew huge criticisms from Ghanaians, who were expecting the Black Stars to win the competition.

But for the intervention of Ghana’s president at the time, John Agyekum Kuffour, the player would have left the Black Stars camp as he felt the criticisms were harsh.

However, Gyan in an interview, says his sacrifice to play the CAN 2008 saw him miss out on a move to Man City, who later signed Emmanuel Adebayor.

“Before CAN 2008, Man City were interested in signing me. Sven-Göran Eriksson was the coach at the time and they were keen to sign me,” he told Dan Kwaku Yeboah TV.

“My manager asked that I go and treat [some pains I had been feeling before the AFCON] and then I sign for Man City but I told him I wanted to play at the Africa Cup [of Nations] because it was going to be my first one and was going to be hosted by Ghana.

“So when Ghanaians criticised me I was pained a lot because I left a lot of money to sacrifice and play at the tournament but they didn’t appreciate it.

“So they signed Adebayor after they had missed out on me.”

Gyan, despite not playing active football since leaving Legon Cities in 2021, has failed to announced his retirement from the game.