Tijjani Reijnders First Interview | Welcome to Manchester City! ✍️

So Thiani, welcome to Manchester City. Firstly, how does it feel to sign for the club? Thank you very much. No, I'm I'm really happy. My family is happy and it's it's a big step. And we are really excited to start here. And why Manchester City? What attracted you to the project here? Yeah, everybody knows how Manchester City is playing in general with the playing style Manchester City is playing. Being dominant on the pitch against the opponents and playing attacking football. And that's what suits me the best. For you as a player, how would you describe yourself on the pitch? I'm like a box to box midfielder who likes to to join the build up from from the back and yeah, eventually to to feed the attackers and create chances. And also trying to score a goal by myself sometimes. Yes. And you mentioned goal scoring there. You scored plenty of goals last season. Is that something you had to add to your game? What sort of brought that on that you saw scored more goals last year than you had before? Yeah, because yeah, I know as a midfielder, it's important to to score goals as well. And two years ago, I didn't score that many goals in the season. And yeah, I was working on it that summer, looking what what I had to do better in front of the goal. And yeah, this season it worked out. And yeah, I got more times on the score sheet. And you also crowned Serie A's best midfielder last season. Just obviously there's a lot of great talent in Italy as well. How much of an honour was that for you? Yeah, it was a big honour, especially because we had a difficult time, difficult season, let me say that. And then still being crowned as best midfielder of the season was a big honour. And yeah, I was, of course, very happy with that prize. Just talk us through your upbringing a little bit. You've come from a very sporting family, am I right? Yeah, that's true. Yeah, my my father was also a professional player. And now my brother is also a professional footballer in Holland. So yeah, it's in the genes. And I hope I can give it also true to my kids later. And again, in your early career, things obviously wasn't too easy. Obviously, we believe you juggled your academy life with working in a shop as a teenager. Just how did you juggle that and the journey from that to here at Manchester City? Yeah, because I didn't get a professional contract when I was 16, 17. And at one point in the summer, my mother came to me like, yeah, you have to go, you have to get a job. And she was asking at the supermarket for a solicitation. Is that a good English word? Solicitation letter. And yeah, I had to sign in and I worked there for one year with my friends. But I think in the end, it was good for me to realise how it's life without football. And yeah, now if I look back, it's crazy how quick things can go in life. And yeah, now I'm here. And of course, you play for AC Milan and the Netherlands national team. So much experience at a high level. What do you think you have more to learn? And what can you gain here at City from Pep and the coaching staff? Yeah, that's why I was playing in the Premier League. The intensity, I want to feel the energy there. And I think you have to think even quicker here, especially when you play for Man City, the spaces are smaller. So those are things where I want to develop myself more. And yeah, looking forward to it. And how much are you looking forward to playing under Pep Guardiola? Yeah, that's a great chance for me. I followed him since he was coaching Barcelona, of course, with Lionel Messi and how he played there and how he brought it also here for Man City. It's something that made me really excited to join Manchester City. And on the Premier League as a whole, what do you already know about the top division in England? What are you expecting from the challenge of the Premier League? Yeah, everybody knows it's the biggest competition in the world. And also, if you see last season, how many clubs are playing against each other for the first top places, the level is incredibly high. And it's a boy's dream to play in the Premier League. And on Manchester itself, the city, have you had a chance to explore it yet? What are you looking to get out of being here in Manchester? No, not yet. I've only been here two times, but I didn't see the city, unfortunately. So I will explore it together with my family when we are here after the World Cup. And now we are happy to be here. And of course, I also get a lot of help from Nathan Ake. And just finally, what are you hoping to achieve during your time here personally and as part of the team? Yeah, for sure, to develop myself as a midfielder, to be an even more complete midfielder. And yeah, football is about winning prizes, and I hope to win as many possible prizes here with Manchester City. Well, Thiago, thank you so much for your time and welcome to the club once again. Thank you very much.