Ukrainian refugee, Andrii Kravchuk, has been granted permission to train with the under-23s squad from Manchester City following the intervention from City and City defender Oleksandr Zinchenko, with whom the former had played with. The pair had played together at the Ukrainian club, Shakhtar Donetsk at the youth level and Kravchuk was playing in the Russian club, Torpedo Moscow, in Turkey before the Ukraine invasion.
“I felt uncomfortable, I was playing in a country that invaded my homeland. Leaving the club was the only decision. People in Ukraine would not understand me if I continued to play there”, said the 23-year-old midfielder in response to his move to England, reported BBC Sports. Kravchuk’s older family members are among those common people who are fighting in the country’s armed forces. He also said that it makes him very anxious when he receives a bomb alert as his family back home could any day be in danger.
As a reason for this, the Ukrainian is extremely grateful to both City and his pal Oleksandr Zinchenko for letting him train with the under-23s squad. Even though FIFA had proposed the signing of Ukrainian players overseas to safeguard the interests of the footballers, the Premier League had previously blocked a few transfers that could allow it.
However, the permission received by the Ukrainian showers new hope for fellow refugee footballers as their home country continues to be under attack. “I know how much football means to him and how it can help us during these difficult times”, said Zinchenko in response to the matter at hand, reported BBC Sports. Kravchuk is set to train with the under-23s for the remainder of the season to continue his fitness and development as a footballer.
