- Joined
- May 8, 2002
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[BBC]
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[Getty Images]
Dear John,
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
It pains me that injuries robbed you of becoming the best, most dominant centre-back we've ever seen. It saddens me that those 295 appearances couldn't have been so many more.
But I don't want a farewell to be so regretful, so I'll focus on the positives.
We were all so lucky to enjoy so many when you pulled on that number five shirt. Manchester City have made a mosaic of you, featuring arguably your most important moment at the club.
The goal-line clearance for City against Liverpool back in January 2019. If Sadio Mane's effort would've crossed the line that night, we wouldn't have been Champions that season.
John, 11mm has never mattered so much in one of the most closely-fought title races the Premier League has ever seen. It mattered so much to us all.
You may have only scored 19 goals during your decade with us, but that meant we celebrated every single one with elation and rapture. Your song, set to the tune of 'Daddy Cool', will go down in City folklore – don't worry, we'll continue to sing it. Just like the Istanbul song you feature in too.
That leads me on so perfectly to that evening in Turkey.
John, that will go down as one of the best performances by any player ever in a Champions League final.
Adapting your play that season to operate in the defensive/midfield hybrid role was a stroke of genius by Pep Guardiola, but it was you who put the effort in to master the art. You drove the team that night to winning the treble – a feat I fear we'll never see the likes of again.
You cemented your name in our club's history forever, John. Those memories will live with us forever.
Thank you.
Emily Brobyn is regularly on BBC Radio Manchester - find all their Man City audio here
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