Manchester City completed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for £65 million on deadline day.
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Ndiaye bolsters Enzo Maresca's new-look Manchester City attacker as the Blues embark on life beyond Pep Guardiola, who left his post as manager in May.
City sanctioned the £85 million sale of Savinho to Tottenham in August and as Omar Marmoush also followed the Brazilian on a season-long loan to north London, there was a considerable void to fill in attack.
The Blues wrapped up the signing of Allan Elias from Palmeiras for €40 million and left it till deadline day to announce the acquisition of Ndiaye from Everton on a five-year contract.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo was initially on Manchester City's radar and despite having agreed personal terms with the 27-year-old Netherlands international, a move broke down as the Reds failed to recruit a potent replacement for the winger in the final days of the transfer window.
Ndiaye had also given the green light to join Tottenham but Manchester City got one over their London counterparts as they outbid Spurs and convinced the Senegalese to move to the Etihad Stadium instead.
cityxtra.co.ukMan City Confirm £65M Signing of Iliman Ndiaye From EvertonManchester City have completed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton in a package worth £65 million on deadline day.
What did Iliman Ndiaye say in his first Manchester City interview?
Speaking upon becoming a Manchester City player, Ndiaye said: "To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.
"It’s not always been easy in my career, but I always had the belief that I could play for a team challenging for the biggest prizes and now I’m here. It feels so good.
"I love to play with the ball on the floor in an attacking team that wants to score as many goals as possible. That’s why I know this is the perfect fit. Manchester City fans can rest assured that I will give my all to bring more success to this incredible club."
City are undergoing a period of major rebuild and director of football Hugo Viana has orchestrated a sweeping remake of the first-team squad this summer.
Ndiaye added: "It’s easy to make the decision about whether you want to be at Manchester City or not. You can see the recent history; you want to be part of that project. They talked to me about where we could go, what we could achieve with me in the team, and I was interested from the beginning.
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"There was nothing else that I wanted other than joining Manchester City. Obviously, you want to be part of this new project. I’ve seen recently what they’ve been doing, and I feel like I will fit right in it.
"I’m super excited to start. It’s an unbelievable moment. I’ve worked so hard to get to this point and I’m super excited and really grateful for this opportunity. Wherever you are, you want to win games and trophies.
"You have your solo targets as well but most importantly; it’s the team target. When you think about the team, if you work hard, it will come naturally. If you have the mindset to do it for the team and the fans, then the targets will come by itself."
Never thought that I wouldn't make it in football, says Ndiaye
Having come through the non-league football pyramid, Ndiaye was quizzed on whether he ever felt he wouldn't make it to the very top.
The Senegal international added: "Never thought that. All the hardwork, night and day, with my dad, sisters and my mum, that never came across my mind. I always thought I was going to make it even though you never know what might happen.
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"I just always thought I was going to reach the top. It’s just belief. I’ve always believed in myself. Every rejection, that never stopped me to accomplish my dreams and what I want to do.
"All the training, whether I was rejected or taken in, it never stopped. I never thought at any point that I’d made it or not, it has always been that I have to work hard every day because there’s always new targets to reach"
Ndiaye: I like to get fans off their seat but most importantly, help the team win
On how he'd describe himself as a footballer, the 26-year-old said: "A really skilful player who likes to dribble. I like to get fans off their seat but most importantly, to help the team win. And by using my best attributes, I feel like I can do that at Manchester City."
Asked how he honed his dribbling to establish himself as one of the most feared wide man in English football, Ndiaye added: "With my dad, I’ve been practicing it since I was young. Obviously until now, it’s natural. Whatever I do, it comes from everything I was doing when I was younger.
"I was really keen on that dribbling side, watching the best dribblers in the world on tapes and then just practicing it on the pitch with my dad."
On the players he looked up to for inspiration when he was growing up, the forward said: "Pele. Maradona. Zidane. Messi. All these dribbling players. Obviously Neymar, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo the Brazilian.
"All the best ones. If you want to be the best you have to look at what the best people do and that’s where my dribbling is coming from."
My family have been really important for me, says Ndiaye
On his family's influence on his successful yet challenging journey to the Etihad Stadium, Ndiaye said: "My dad has been really important from my first training. From my first team in France, he’s always been by my side, with my mum, with my sisters, they’ve always been there and had that belief in me that one day I could make it.
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"Obviously they believed what I believed too in me wanting to be one of the best players in the world, reaching the top level, so they’ve been really important for me and they’ve helped me get to where I am today.
"It’s really important. They help you on the pitch, you help each other, they give you a boost and fire. As much as you already have that fire to win for the team, you want to win for the fans. You want to see them happy and be able to connect with them."
Ndiaye is expected to make his Manchester City debut against Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.