Manchester City prospect reveals why he may not return to the Etihad
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Angelino of RB Leipzig looks on during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and RB Leipzig at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 19, 2020 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Angelino has an interesting relationship with Manchester City, but it is far from unique. He like many of the Sky Blues’ other young prospects has been sent out to their sister clubs Girona and New York City on loan, before returning to the parent side, without having featured for them once.
He was subsequently sold to PSV Eindhoven, had an outstanding term with the Dutch club and was repurchased by the Premier League champions. Though after half a season in Manchester he has been sent to RB Leipzig on loan and claimed his return to the north of England could be affected by their Champions League ban.
What did he say?
Speaking to SportBlid in an interview Angelino said: “I feel very comfortable in Leipzig. I have to focus on RB.”
When asked if a lack of Champions League action at the Etihad Stadium will be a factor when deciding his future, the left-back said: “Of course, this hits every club and every player hard.”
On the move again?
RB Leipzig reportedly have a €22m option in the Spanish full back’s loan deal to make the move a permanent one come the summer. He has already achieved the same number of league starts for the second-place German club as he did with Manchester City in the first half of the season, four, and has found the back of the net once, as per WhoScored. He has been helped by the fact there is less competition for places at the German club, while he was vying for a starting spot against Benjamin Mendy and Oleksandr Zinchenko at the Etihad Stadium.
His average number of tackles per match has shot up from 0.8 to 1.5, almost doubling in the Bundesliga, while his interceptions have risen from an average of 1.5 per game to 2.8, as per WhoScored.
The statistics suggest the defender has had a much more significant influence without the ball since arriving in the Bundesliga and he has attributed that to lessons Pep Guardiola taught him, saying: “When I watch videos of how I behave on the pitch for Leipzig, I see how he has made me better.”