MANCHESTER CITY have given Ukrainian refugee Andrii Kravchuk the chance to train with them for the remainder of the season.
The midfielder – a former Under-21 international for his country – has been without a club after leaving Russian first division club Torpedo Moscow.
Oleksandr Zinchenko helped organise for fellow Ukrainian Andrii Kravchuk to train with Man City Credit: Manchester City
Ukraine U21 star Kravchuk has joined up with the City squad after terminating his contract with Russian side Torpedo Moscow Credit: Manchester City
Kravchuk is hoping to make it as a player in England Credit: Manchester City He was in Turkey on a pre-season training camp with them when he received a 5am call from his mother to say Russia had invaded their country.
He terminated his contract with immediate effect and now hopes to fulfil a long held ambition and carve out a career in England.
Kravchuk’s family remain in Kiev and his brother Aleks is part of the country’s armed forces fighting against the invaders.
Kravchuk said: “I am so grateful to Manchester City for giving me this chance to train with them.
“The past few weeks and months have been so difficult, but to be back on the pitch means so much to me.”
Kravchuk is a former team-mate of City defender and countryman Olek Zinchenko – who has helped to arrange his spell at the Etihad.
They spent time together at Shakhtar Donetsk’s academy and were reunited in the North West on Thursday.
Ukraine international skipper Zinchenko said: “While I wish the circumstances were very different, it has been good to be back with Andrii.
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“I know how much football means to him, and how it can help us during these difficult times.”
The plan is for Kravchuk to train with City’s Elite Development Squad for the remainder of the season.
But he will be staying in constant contact with his family back in Ukraine.
He said: “I am in groups on my phone and always receiving messages with bombing alerts.
Zinchenko and Kravchuk used to play together at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk Credit: Manchester City “Every time those alerts come through I am so anxious. Your only thought is that my family can die.
“I speak to my brother every day. I tell him every day how proud I am of him, for not only protecting our family but the whole country and the Ukrainian people.”
Kravchuk recalled the moment his mother told me the war had started, saying: “She called me at 5am. She usually calls me at lunchtime after training but this was different.
“Her first words to me were: Russia is bombing us. It’s a shock. I couldn’t find the words. I was destroyed inside.
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Inside town held prisoner by yobs who lob bricks at buses and attack OAPs “I cannot believe it’s happened. In the 21st century, in the middle of Europe.”
Kravchuk spent four years with Dynamo Kyiv as a boy before moving to Shakhtar’s academy when he was 11.
He then signed for Olimpic Donetsk and made his first team debut at the age of 19.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
