When Manchester City signed Tijjani Reijnders from AC Milan last summer, it seemed like the Dutch midfielder would become a mainstay of City’s midfield. Reijnders arrived at City fresh off being named the best midfielder in Serie A for the 2024-25 season. The Dutch international was in the prime of his career. He seemed poised to make the step up to become an elite midfielder. However, that isn’t what transpired. Now Tijjani Reijnders is on the verge of being sold to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah. It is a great shame that Reijnders’ City career didn’t pan out as he should have been ideally suited to life at City.
Manchester City and Al Qadsiah are set to exchange documents that will clear the way for Tijjani Reijnders to leave City.
Tijjani Reijnders is on the verge of leaving Manchester City. Fabrizio Romano has reported that City and Al Qadsiah will exchange documents today which will clear the way for Reijnders move to Saudi Arabia. Reijnders is being sold by City for €61 million (£52.1 million).
It just wasn’t meant to be for Tijjani Reijnders at City or in the Premier League.
The start that Tijjani Reijnders made to life at Manchester City was full of promise. His performances at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup did give the impression that Reijnders would be an important player for Pep Guardiola’s side. Reijnders’ Premier League debut against Wolves was outstanding. He ran the show at Molineux in a 4-0 win for his team and it looked like City had struck gold.
After his bright start to life at City, Reijnders began to struggle. The more time went on the more it was apparent he wasn’t suited to life in the Premier League. The Premier League is now built off of winning duels and physicality. Neither of those aspects of the game are Tijjani Reijnders strengths. He did have a spell where he scored four goals in seven matches at the end of December through the beginning of January. But that was a fleeting moment. By the end of last season, Reijnders was often on the bench. His card seemed to be marked by Pep Guardiola.
Now, Tijjani Reijnders is on the verge of signing for Al Qadsiah. That move is for the best for him and Manchester City. It is a shame that Reijnders couldn’t get it together at City. His strengths in possession seemed ideally suited to a role in City’s midfield. But in the end, his frailties out of possession meant his time in England was brief. Not every signing turns into a pot of gold. Unfortunately, this has proved to be the case with Tijjani Reijnders.
As city funs we’re really sorry but just good luck reijnders
You are quite right. He did look such a promising player and it showed in fleeting moments but he could then so easily disappear which is not a good look for a midfielder. The demands of the PL prove to be much higher than Serie A so perhaps a lesson for the future.
It was not for the loss of love for the Club that made Bernardo, Gundagun or even Rhodri want to leave just the demands of the PL especially as the legs reach 30+ now
Based on an interview with Bernardo it was more to do with the Manchester weather with him.
He had said something to the effect of if Manchester was a few hundred miles further south wed never be able to get rid of him..
Generally though youre right both the physical demands and stress levels in the Premier League are such that people find they need a break from it (I’d add Pep to your list).
Back to a battle with the dark arts again today. Lets hope referees now recognise all in wrestling when they see it.