Wilfried Bony’s Manchester City hell is finally over – for now anyway. The 27-year-old has completed a season-long loan to Stoke City today, bringing an end to his year-and-a-half spell at the Etihad Stadium. The former Swansea City forward has been linked with a whole host of clubs this summer but the Potters appear to have come out on top, in a move that makes sense for both club and player.
After making his name in the Netherlands with Vitesse Arnhem, Bony joined the Swans in July 2013 and went on to score 26 goals in 54 Premier League games. Such form was enough to earn him a move to City, who splashed out an initial £25 million on him, however, things have not gone as planned for Bony during his time in Manchester.
The arrival of Pep Guardiola signalled the end for the player and he has spent the summer months deciding where his future lies. The club he has chosen seem like the perfect match for him. Mark Hughes has assembled a strong squad at the Bet365 Stadium, with an array of technically gifted creative players. However, he is lacking a player who can operate as a focal point and convert the Potters’ creativity into goals.
Bony looks as though he could be the answer to this. The Swansea side that he was a part of are not dissimilar to the current Stoke team, and with less pressure on his shoulders at a club aiming for a top-half finish, Bony could well rediscover the prolific form that he displayed at the Liberty Stadium.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news …
Many seemed to share the view that it is a good move for both parties …
https://twitter.com/mahesh_gautham/status/770953772679897089
Whilst a number of supporters of other clubs despaired at their side’s failure to sign him …
Some City supporters were happy to see the back of him …
https://twitter.com/HarryStopes/status/770956996485021696
Whilst some wished him luck at his new club …
https://twitter.com/samneary7/status/770957594798284800
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