3. Tendayi Darikwa’s signing signalled the start of a squad shift
Replacing Lasse Sorensen was never going to be easy. He had been one of the most energetic and likeable figures in the side, and his departure created genuine concern. Darikwa’s arrival solved that football problem quickly enough, because he proved to be an outstanding player, a leader and eventually a captain, but the importance of the move went beyond filling a position on the right.
In truth, the signing also signalled a wider shift in thinking. City were no longer focusing on a narrow recruitment model built around youth and resale. Darikwa brought experience, authority and standards, and in doing so, he showed the club were prepared to sign the right player, not just the right age. That has echoed through the squad ever since, both in performances and in the development of the younger players around him.
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