Recently, various rumors have been circulating around Abduqodir Husanov, a defender of the Uzbekistan national team and England's Manchester City club. Against the backdrop of the defender not being fielded in the last 5 matches, English publications reported that he might leave the "Citizens." Now, we will try to delve into this topic in detail.
Upon arriving at the Uzbekistan national team's training camp in March, Abduqodir Husanov was welcomed quite warmly by Uzbek media. The reason is that the player's appearance in the English Premier League sparked considerable discussions not only among Uzbek fans but also in other foreign countries. Therefore, it is natural that his arrival in Tashkent caused a resonance. After playing in matches against Kyrgyzstan and Iran in March, Husanov flew from Tehran to Manchester, and everything started from there.
Specifically, after arriving at the Manchester City training camp, Husanov was fielded in the starting lineup for the team's FA Cup quarter-final match against Bournemouth. However, unexpectedly, Pep Guardiola substituted him at the beginning of the second half for Niko O'Reilly. Three minutes later, the English player who replaced Abduqodir assisted Erling Haaland's goal and became one of the best players of the match.
Later, Husanov was not included in the squad for the match against Leicester in the 30th round of the English Premier League. English publications reported that in this case, the head coach gave the Uzbek player a chance to rest, preserving him for the upcoming Manchester derby.
For this reason, the absence of the player in the match against Leicester did not cause much discussion in Uzbek media. However, Husanov was also not fielded in the game against Manchester United, which began to raise concerns among his fans.
After that, the player was also left on the bench in matches against Crystal Palace, Everton, and Aston Villa. The fact that Abduqodir was not fielded and that his main competitor, Niko O'Reilly, was scoring goals consecutively led Uzbek fans to start linking Husanov's trip to Manchester with the idea that it had "worn off," and that when he returned to Uzbekistan, he was being taken around events, even blogger Abdurahmon Fozilov was said to be surrounding the player.
On April 23, English publications reported that Manchester City was ready to loan the Uzbek player. The reason is that the "Citizens" management wants Husanov to gain more playing experience and is considering temporarily sending him to another team. How true is this? From one perspective, it seems quite a reasonable decision. Because with important matches ahead for the Uzbekistan national team, it is not a good sign for our young and talented defender to remain on the bench for too long. This situation could seriously impact the player's future. Therefore, even if it is not a powerful club like Manchester City, moving to a mid-level team and securing a stable place in the starting lineup is important for both the player and the Uzbekistan national team.
However, another problem may arise — this relates to language issues. Currently, one of the biggest barriers for an Uzbek player is not being able to communicate well in English. If Husanov moves to a team in the English league, that would be good. Because Pep Guardiola has repeatedly mentioned in press conferences that the defender is learning English.
But if he signs a contract with a club participating in Spain's La Liga or Italy's Serie A, Abduqodir may face the same situation — a new environment, a new country, and of course, a new language. Therefore, his move to another club has both positive and negative aspects.
On April 23, another report regarding Abduqodir Husanov emerged. Namely, one of Italy's most powerful teams, Juventus, is showing interest in the Uzbek player. According to reports, the parties are currently negotiating. It was even said that the management of the "Citizens" is considering swapping the defender for Turin club member Andrea Cambiaso. Once this news leaked to the media, similar sentiments began to arise among Uzbek fans: "It's all over for Husanov" or "Abdurahmon Fozilov ruined Abduqodir" began to circulate.
Photo: “Daryo”/Asadbek Berdiyorov
Fans who are interested in football know well what kind of team Juventus is and what level of players play there. Therefore, Husanov's move to the Turin side is not a decline at all; rather, it could be a further step up. Because Italian football has long been known for its defensive style, and Juventus has always been among the top teams in Serie A and regularly participates in the Champions League — this could be a significant "plus" for the Uzbek player.
Against the backdrop of these rumors, the head of the press service of the Uzbekistan Football Association and a well-known commentator, Davron Fayziyev, tried to clarify the situation surrounding Husanov by speaking with his family members. According to Fayziyev, there is no negative reason behind Husanov's absence from the squad. On the contrary, coach Pep Guardiola pays constant attention to him during training, provides tactical instructions, and still has full confidence in him. Husanov's physical condition is also good, with no signs of decline.
One of the main reasons is strong internal competition. The young defender O'Reilly, who has been scoring goals and providing assists in consecutive matches, has solidified his position on the left flank. As a result, Guardiola moved Josko Gvardiol to the center and Ruben Dias to the central right defense. After these tactical changes, the team achieved consecutive victories. During such times, especially in the defensive line, coaches usually do not make changes — at this moment, every point for City is crucial for qualifying for the Champions League.
Abduqodir still has opportunities; there is confidence. He himself is also in a positive mood, just waiting for his chance. Just pay attention to reliable sources, says Fayziyev.
In conclusion, it can be said that the rumors surrounding Husanov are mostly based on assumptions. The coach trusts him, his physical condition is in place, and competition is a natural process. He needs time, the right environment, and consistent playing practice. We fans must continue to support him. Because he can still bring us joy many times in the future. Therefore, we must support our player wholeheartedly. Because any confidence shown to him naturally gives Husanov additional strength.
Prepared by Jamshidbek Mahmudov.
