Lauded while at Swansea City as a thorough-bred goal-machine, Wilfred Bony's nose-diving career reflects the ruthlessness of the football industry. The Ivorian was worshipped in Wales, as fans eulogised about him in their chant "Come on Wilfred Bony score some goals for Swansea..." But, a fatal move to Manchester City in January 2015 appeared to de-rail what was a promising career and the now 34 year old never managed to reverse his fortunes.
What brought him to the Premier League?
In 2007, a 19 year old Wilfred Guemiand Bony from Bingerville, Ivory Coast attracted the attention of GFK Pro Football management, a scouting firm for African players to get a trial in Europe. The Issia Wazi player was afforded a two week trial at Rafa Benitez's Liverpool, but he was unsuccessful.
After, winning the Czech First League at Sparta Prague in 2010, he transferred to mid-table Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem for £3.4m in January. They had been intrigued by this strong, physical number nine who had scored 17 goals in the first half of the 2010-11 season.
It was in the Eastern city of Arnhem, where Bony reached the next level and began interesting some of the biggest clubs in Europe to acquire his services. In February 2012, the centre forward signed a new contract extension that would keep him at the Dutch club until 2015. The pinnacle of his stint with Vitesse was the 2012-13 season, when he scored 31 goals in 30 games to claim the Eredivisie. That meant the powerhouse was scoring a goal every 1.03 games only bettered since 2009 by Luis Suarez in 2010.
In 2013 Wilfred Bony was a wanted man, and the player was eager to cut his ties with Vitesse in order to seal a move to the Premier League.
"But it is difficult if you play for a club like Vitesse..."
"It was about respect and I don't think Vitesse showed it"
Wilfred Bony in 2013
It appeared the striker felt that he was deserved of a bigger club, and in July 2013 he signed a four year contract with Swansea City, in a £12m move.
A man with many options
In 2013, Vitesse Arnhem were left with little choice but to honour the wishes of the talisman and sell him in a cut-price deal. Newcastle targeted Bony as the successor to Demba Ba, but West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea were all keen on the frontman too.
"He could have gone to Chelsea in January, but he was busy with the Africa Cup of Nations and they focused on other players"
Tuto Mercato in 2013 on Chelsea's pursuit of Wilfred Bony
The 6ft targetman could have been the ideal likewise replacement for veteran Didier Drogba, but instead the Blues opted to sign Demba Ba instead.
The Ivorian adored in Wales
Wilfred Bony's arrival at the Liberty Stadium brought a divided opinion from the board, as many were sceptical it was a huge risk spending £12m on a player untested in England.
"It's not what we are about as a club"
Chairman Huw Jenkins response to Swansea signing Bony
What a decision it proved to be, the striker scored two on his debut in a Europa League Third Round qualifying match, and finished the 2013-14 season with 25 goals in all competitions. He equalled Spanish striker Michu as the club's all-time Premier League top goal scorer, finishing the calendar year on 20 Premier League goals.
He was a menace on the pitch, he relished pinning centre-backs and aerial duels, where he thrived in tight spaces because he had such immense strength. What brought him success in front of goal was his awareness and timing, where he evolved into the ultimate poacher, 23 out of his 25 goals in 2013-14 were inside the box.
He emulated the power and clinical ability of Didier Drogba or Romelu Lukaku, where he could force an opening by bullying defenders and had a ruthless shot, that was unstoppable.
In January 2015, he was given the opportunity to play Champions League football, when the riches of Manchester City made a £25m bid for him.
It was a monumental decision in his career, choosing to abandon the euphoria and adoration of the Swansea fans, where he was their star player.
He was hailed by Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini as a "strong" and "skilful" player who has an "excellent record since moving to England".
Where it all went wrong:
It always seemed that the move to the Etihad did not suit the former Swansea striker, and it felt like Bony was blindsided by the boyhood dream to taste Champions League football.
The move was immediately dampened by the Africa Cup on Nations. Bony returned after winning the tournament with Ivory Coast fatigued and susceptible to injury. This delayed his chances of gaining favourability under his new manager and exacerbated his slip from the starting eleven.
"It's been the worst spell of my career without question..."
"I've been ruled out with injury three or four times"
Bony in 2020 reflecting on his first season with Manchester City
In the end Bony was never able to recover from his early injury setbacks at Manchester City and was left to feed off scraps as he occupied the sidelines for most of his two years with the club. He finished with just 10 goals in 46 appearances and was instantly deemed surplus, when Pep Guardiola became manager in 2016.
It shows how detrimental one incorrect transfer can be on a player's reputation, confidence and their career. Bony capped 56 times by his country was never able to recover; he spent the 2016-17 season on loan at Stoke and later re-united with Swansea with the hope of rejuvenating himself.
Unfortunately, he was relegated at the club who he had previously shared so many great memories with and eventually left for Saudi Arabia when they entered the Championship.
At 34, now unemployed it seems that the former Vitesse talisman must look back at his career and regret not appreciating what he had. He was championed in Holland and Wales, but he always seemed to concentrate on reaching the top which brought mistakes. But you can't say he didn't try.
Comentários