The Ghana international became the Blues’ first January acquisition, penning a five-and-a-half-year deal from Bournemouth which will see him stay at the Etihad Stadium through to 2031.
During his time with the Cherries, he became one of the Premier League’s finest operators – scoring 32 goals and registering 13 assists in all competitions for Andoni Iraola’s side.
Semenyo’s Bournemouth switch midway through the 2022/23 season represented his first taste of top-flight action after starting his professional career with Bristol City, while enjoying loan spells with Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland.
Now at City, the 26-year-old will have the opportunity to play in Europe for the first time – and Guardiola believes Semenyo’s footballing education will serve him well at City.
“Sometimes you come up and early, sometimes you need more time, but I’m sure the setbacks make every player,” the Blues boss said.
“Not just Antoine, but they make who you are. Sometimes it’s a little bit later, but you have to be stubborn and dig in and maybe it’ll happen.
“And now he thinks ‘I can play in the Champions League’. And he has the passion to play European competition that he didn’t play before, and we have to take it, every passion with life.”
Watch the second section of Guardiola’s press conference in the video player above!
