Its trajectory Edin Dzeko he had everything. He left his native Bosnia before the age of 20 to continue his football career in the Czech Republic; then he passed through Germany and from there he ended up in City of Manchesterjoining the ambitious project of Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment (now City Group), which from the United Arab Emirates took over the club in 2008.
His departure came four years later when he went on loan to Roma and then he ended up at Inter, where today he is one of the main strikers (along with Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martínez) and will be available to play in the next Champions League final on Saturday 10 June in Istanbul, the setting where the famous Law of the Ex… If football allows it.
Despite the years, Dzeko remembers the English team fondly. In fact, he has gone so far as to say that he follows them from a distance: “It’s natural for me to follow City’s results because I feel it’s still my club.”, he said in an interview with the British newspaper Dailymail. “It makes me proud that I have not been forgotten”added in relation to messages from fans the citizens who still remember their goals.
Dzeko’s story with Manchester City
In January 2011 the striker, then 24, was bought by the club from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg for a fee close to €40 million. He was already champion in the German league 2008-2009 (in that season he scored 36 goals in 42 games), and in the next one he didn’t stop celebrating with 29 in 45 games.
He arrived at the express request of Roberto Mancini, who then said: “We have a chance to win the league this year and the decisive factor could be Edin Dzeko (…) This player can decide titles and that’s why we want him.”
In that first half the title did not come as Manchester United retained the trophy. His individual performance wasn’t the brightest either, scoring just two goals in 15 games. However, the following would be his sanctification campaign.
In 2012-2012, Dzeko was more of a protagonist. Added 14 celebrations in 30 matches in the league, including that legendary matchday 38 tie in which they beat QPR on aggregate with Sergio Agüero’s memorable 93:20 goal.
Minute 92 at the Etihad Stadium: After two consecutive corners, Edin Dzeko would raise the hopes of everyone on the pitch following a 2-2 draw.
Manchester City were 3 minutes away from achieving the feat and coming from behind. pic.twitter.com/8O2qN7UyRL
— Man City Twitt 🏴 (@mancitytwitt) March 30, 2020
The seasons continued and the Bosnian continued to surrender. Before his retirement in 2015 he had already added 72 plus 38 assists in 189 games. He is the third club in his career with the most goals behind Wolfsburg and Roma, where he arrived at the age of 29 and amid a process in which Manuel Pellegrini wanted to give more space to young talent: “It wasn’t for money, but to give others a chance”, said the Chilean, quoted by the Dailymail.
Edin arrived at Inter in the summer of 2021 and already has more than a hundred games under his belt Nerazzurri. Notable was his goal in the first leg of the semi-finals against AC Milan, with a superb volley, and his nine goals in the current Serie A season as they finished third, qualifying for next year’s Champions League.
🔥🤯 In the 8th minute, this is how Dzeko surprised with his left foot to give the first goal to Inter vs. Milan#UCLpic.twitter.com/1PhT66Tr10
— Sportingnewses Spain 🇪🇸 (@sportingnewses) May 10, 2023
Now football will bring them together, again, in Istanbul. The final of the Champions League will be a great way to close – very likely – a story that will have a sweet ending for one and a bitter one for the other. “See you in Istanbul”, Dzeko posted on social media when it was confirmed that City were his rivals. History will tell who will have the last smile.
