Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on new signing Antoine Semenyo following an impressive debut in the club’s emphatic 10–1 FA Cup victory over Exeter City.
Semenyo, who joined City from Bournemouth during the January transfer window, made his first appearance for the Premier League champions as Guardiola used the cup tie to introduce the Ghana international to his squad. The 26-year-old wasted no time making an impact, marking his debut with a goal and an assist in a commanding team performance.
Speaking ahead of City’s Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg clash against Newcastle, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with what he saw from the forward.
“He is a nice guy. He showed in a few actions [against Exeter] what he showed at Bournemouth and hopefully he can continue to do it here,” Guardiola said.
Semenyo’s £65 million move to Manchester City followed a series of consistent performances in the Premier League, where he built a reputation for his direct running, versatility across the frontline, and strong attacking presence. Guardiola had previously highlighted those qualities as key reasons behind City’s decision to sign the Ghanaian attacker.
The Exeter match marked the beginning of Semenyo’s integration into Guardiola’s squad, providing City with an additional attacking option as they continue to compete on multiple fronts in domestic and European competitions.
Guardiola noted that while the club will give Semenyo time to adjust to the demands of playing for City, the early signs from his debut were encouraging and aligned with what the coaching staff had seen before his arrival from Bournemouth.
Semenyo is expected to be involved again when Manchester City face Newcastle in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash.
