'I won back-to-back Premier League titles but my club kept me on academy wages'

Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko has explained that he was earning academy wages when he helped Manchester City win back-to-back Premier League titles in 2018 and 2019. The Ukraine international spent six years at the Etihad Stadium after joining the club as a teenager.

Zinchenko moved to Manchester in July 2016 and featured 22 times in the Premier League across two campaigns as City won their first two titles under Pep Guardiola.

The 27-year-old then helped the Citizens win another two titles in 2021 and 2022 before securing a move to Arsenal.

Zinchenko has written an autobiography called Believe, which details his life on and off the pitch.

And delving into his contract situation at the Etihad Stadium, the versatile player penned: “The City lawyers said, ‘Look, this is an academy player contract, right?

“’As soon as you make your first official game for City, we’re going to extend your contract with the real money that we pay full professionals. Not this academy player deal. So trust us.’

“Of course I said yes. Follow the dream. But do you know when my next contract came? The one that put me on full professional money? After I had played 43 games in the Premier League! I won two Premier League titles playing on an academy contract.”

Zinchenko made 128 appearances for City in all competitions and also got his hands on the FA Cup and four Carabao Cups before linking up with his former Citizens coach Mikel Arteta in north London.

He has been Arsenal’s first-choice left-back for the majority of his Gunners spell but has struggled for gametime this season and has only recently returned to the squad after missing a month of action due to a calf injury. The talented star will now be aiming to win back his place at left-back, with Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori sharing the role in his absence.

Zinchenko has also insisted in his book that he had a good relationship with Guardiola during his time in the north west. But the Ukrainian has detailed one occasion where he upset the Spaniard after misplacing a pass in training.

He wrote: “Out loud I said, ‘Mister. Like, I just did one wrong pass, you know?’ And his reaction was incredible.

“‘Oh, okay, sorry, sorry, Mr Zinchenko. Sorry. Okay, guys, thank you – everyone inside.’ And he went in, walked to the changing room. Training over, all because I talked back. I knew I was in trouble.”