Abdukodir Khusanov recently made a clear statement in an interview with Setanta Sports Uzbekistan: he prefers to play in the center - in central defense - rather than on the right wing. But this position is the "most expensive place" in Manchester City - the competition is fierce, and the skill is also high. Therefore, the main question of the fans is natural: where will Khusanov's future at City turn after this statement?
Expensive transfer and a tough start
According to the analysis of Cityxtra.co.uk, the experts of this site recall that Khusanov's arrival coincided with the peak of the defensive crisis in the team. He arrived from Lens for £33.5m on 20 January 2025 and has impressed under Pep Guardiola in a short period of time, making 32 appearances in all competitions in his first 12 months.
Of course, the ideal scenario doesn't always happen. Not long after arriving in England, he made a mistake in his first game against Chelsea, allowing Noni Madueke to open the scoring early. In that match, Khusanov was replaced by John Stones in the 54th minute.
But the most important thing is that after that mistake, he answered the question of "is he broken?" on the pitch: his game gradually improved, his confidence returned, his consistency gained. As a result, he established himself as a reliable backup behind the likes of Ruben Dias and Yoszko Guardiola.
This season's numbers are not "dry facts"
This season, the 21-year-old defender has played in 22 matches in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup and the Champions League, playing a total of 1,589 minutes. City, on the other hand, are still struggling in all four competitions - so rotation and options in defense are always needed.
There is a nuance that complicates the situation: Stones is not a permanent "iron" this season - due to injuries, he has played less often in the center, sometimes on the wing. Mateusz Nunes seems to have strengthened at right-back.
Injuries, transfers and a new scenario
It is also worth remembering that in January there was another personnel shortage in defense: Diaz and Guardiola were injured in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea. This was followed by the club's academy product Max Alleyn being brought back on loan from Watford, and then there was talk of a £20m move for Mark Gea from Crystal Palace.
Now Dias and Stones are back in the mix. Stones is also reportedly set to leave as a free agent at the end of the season, while Nathan Ake's contract expires after next season - his future is also uncertain.
Where will Khusanov "fit in" now?
By the end of the season, the back line will be full again: Dias, Guardiola, Stones, Ake, Alleyn - and of course Khusanov. This raises the question of "hierarchy": how close will the Uzbek defender who wants to be in the centre be to the main man?
Manchester Evening News' City expert Simon Bykowski has shed light on this issue: in his opinion, Khusanov will play a key role in the centre and will get enough playing time. The reason is simple - City will fight on all fronts next season, which requires constant rotation and a "clean leg" in defense.
In addition, Guardiola is quoted as saying that Khusanov has also expressed positive opinions about his adaptation to the English environment, his importance in the team and his confidence in his future. Cityxtra.co.uk expert Wiam Lahoti concludes that even after Dias and Stones return, Guardiola is likely to rely on Khusanov in the decisive part of the season.
The conclusion is this: Khusanov wants a center - which means he is coming out on the big stage with a big claim. The competition at City is tough, but there are also many opportunities: there are many tournaments, close games, and there is always a risk of injuries. Most importantly, he is already working and winning the role of "reserve" and not just sitting around. For fans, this is a good signal: seeing an Uzbek defender in the center is no longer a fantasy, but a scenario.
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