‘I did not see a future at Man City so I left – now I believe I’d repair Man Utd’s issues’

Bundesliga star Jeremie Frimpong has gone from strength to strength since leaving Manchester City and is now one of the best wing-backs in the world

The Bayer Leverkusen squad that nearly went unbeaten in the 2023/24 season will likely be remembered for a long time.

After clinching their first Bundesliga title with ease, winning 28 and drawing six of their 34 matches, Xabi Alonso’s team entered the Europa League final full of confidence. However, a hat-trick from Ademola Lookman in their second-to-last game of the season handed them their first defeat of the campaign.

Despite the unexpected setback in Dublin, Leverkusen rebounded three days later by beating FC Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the DFB-Pokal final, ending the season with 43 victories and a domestic double.

Suddenly, Alonso was the most sought-after coach in Europe. Leverkusen’s massive success last season was a team effort, with several players having the best seasons of their careers, as evidenced by five of them scoring in double figures.

Among them was ex-Manchester City academy star Jeremie Frimpong, who scored 14 goals across all competitions – only outdone by teammates Florian Wirtz (18) and Victor Boniface (21).

Having transferred to Leverkusen from Celtic in January 2021, where he primarily played as a right-back, the idea of scoring double figures in a single season must have seemed unlikely to the Dutch international in the past.

However, the 24-year-old has been transformed into an attacking wing-back under Alonso’s guidance, reports the Mirror.

The whirlwind journey for the hotshot player has seen him rise to one of the top spots in his field, all thanks to some extraordinary guidance from a Spanish football genius. Quite the turnaround after City had previously written him off.

Earlier this year, he explained to SportBible: “I kept playing [an age group] down and I think when I was under-23s at City, I remember going in for a new contract and that’s when I knew my path at City was different.

“They were talking about how I couldn’t get into the team and were comparing me to other players in the academy that were doing better than me. I thought, ‘Yeah, I clearly don’t have a future here,’ so I’ve got to take a different step.”

The 2023/24 season, Alonso’s first full term in charge, saw Frimpong reach even greater heights. He scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists, playing a key role in Leverkusen’s league and cup triumphs.

However, prior to Frimpong becoming a Bundesliga sensation, Manchester United had made contact with his representatives ahead of the 2023 summer transfer window. As Frimpong’s impressive 2023/24 season unfolded, United kept an eye on him and even considered making a move for him in the summer.

His performances in Germany at the time had United fans excited about the possibility of him being signed by compatriot Erik ten Hag. He was in scintillating form, establishing himself as the best wing-back in the world at that point.

It was reported that he had a £33.5million release clause in his contract that would be active until mid-July, making it even more tempting to sign him ahead of the current season. But a move never materialised, meaning Frimpong is still in Germany and continues to play a crucial role for Leverkusen.

In reality, signing the Dutch international would have made little sense in the summer. United had decided to stick with Ten Hag, who played with a back-four, and Frimpong is a wing-back rather than a traditional full-back.

However, if newly-appointed United head coach Ruben Amorim had been in charge, a move for Frimpong would have been a no-brainer. The 39-year-old gaffer, who has been at the helm of United for a month, is renowned for his signature 3-4-3 formation which heavily leans on wing-backs.

This system necessitates wing-backs to offer width and support to the forwards. Frimpong would be a perfect fit for this role, given how Alonso has developed his individual game in Germany.

Despite not being the most dependable in defence, he shines in attack, as demonstrated by his 26 goal contributions last season. When he surges forward, the right-sided centre-back fills any gaps left behind.

Under Amorim, United have adopted a similar strategy, with players like Diogo Dalot and Amad Diallo stepping into the new wing-back role. Frimpong’s blistering speed allows him to cover the length of the pitch, even though his primary duty is to attack.