Manchester City will face their former academy player in the Carabao Cup

Pep Guardiola together with his troops will face Watford on Tuesday(24 September 2024) for the Carabao Cup kickoff set at 20:45.

Watford have signed the former City midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru, who was in the City’s academy ranks from the age of 12 years old until he was loaned out back in 2018.

Dele-Bashiru management to caps 76 appearance for City’s development under-18 and under-21.

In 2018 Dele-Bashiru was part of summer tour squad to the USA and made his debut in that Leicester cup tie at the Etihad Stadium a year before.

In 2019 he was supposed to sign the contract with first team but the deal didn’t metabolized and left the club as a free agent.

Dele-Bashiru went on to highlight that he still have a love for Pep Guardiola but must focus on himself and to establish his name.

He said “I feel like all youth players have their own pathway and story, but I am now ready to take the next step.

“I need to be playing games and making a name for myself. There is definitely a pathway here [at Watford], the team play good football and have fantastic fans. It was definitely the best choice for me.

“It is frustrating that I have not played more since [his City debut], but that is why I am so keen to be here at Watford, where I can hopefully get more game-time.”

Dele-Bashiru shared what he learned at City academy ranks and also emphasized that all of this has improved his game.

He said “Growing up at City was an amazing experience, I was there from the age of six until I was 18 and played with so many great footballers during my time in the academy.

“I also trained and played with the first team so it was a great experience. I learned a lot from all of the players and it really improved me as a player. They are my team, I grew up supporting Manchester City and I still have a soft spot for them.”

He went on to speak highly about Pep Guardiola and he also noted that City coach always knows what he want.

Dele-Bashiru said “He was a good mentor, I owe a lot to him and he taught me a lot of things.

“He [Guardiola] always knew what he wanted and if you didn’t give it to him he was not happy. I learned a lot from him and it was excellent to train under him.

“The debut was a crazy night,” he reflected after joining Watford. “I was excited to potentially get onto the pitch, but completely shocked when Pep told me to come on. I felt like I had worked hard for that moment.

“Yaya [Toure] was giving me a lot of advice and support but all of them were helping and telling me I could do it. I think I started it off playing a bit safe, but as the game went on I got into it more and was more confident on the ball – Pep said I played well and was proud of all the young players.”

It will be the very first time when Tom Dele-Bashiru returns to Etihad Stadium after leaving about Seven years.

BY LUCKY SEANEGO