The 21-year-old has skilled a outstanding rise from taking part in in Belarus’ top-flight to reaching the Premier League inside three years.
A trailblazer for his nation, he grew to become the primary participant from Uzbekistan to characteristic in England’s high division and can characterize his nation on the World Cup in the summertime.
He has performed 22 occasions in all competitions for Metropolis this season and featured within the spectacular victories over Manchester United and Newcastle, in addition to Sunday’s comeback win over champions Liverpool at Anfield.
Guardiola enthused about him afterwards, saying “what a recreation he performed” in opposition to Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike, though he was substituted within the second half after colliding with Metropolis goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Khusanov’s primary asset is his pace – he has clocked 22mph this season, the sixth-highest for a Premier League defender, with Wolves‘ Jackson Tchatchoua main the way in which on 23.2mph.
With 17 tackles and 18 interceptions this time period, Khusanov ranks second for Metropolis gamers on each metrics, having needed to step up amid the absence of Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and John Stones at numerous levels.
Khusanov arrived in Manchester with restricted English and when requested about potential language difficulties on Tuesday, Guardiola replied: “He would not converse like William Shakespeare however he is getting higher and higher.
“He understands what we would like and each time he’s getting higher. He’s so clever.”
Khusanov is of course reserved and as a substitute does his speaking on the pitch with a no-nonsense method.
Such has been the development in his type this season that he claimed Metropolis’s participant of the month award for January.
That mentioned, it’s true to say that Khusanov can nonetheless trigger some nervousness amongst Metropolis followers when in possession, maybe with flashbacks to his first recreation.
He’s nonetheless younger and uncooked, however Guardiola has no doubts concerning the participant’s brilliant future.
“Usually when a participant has physicality, it means he doesn’t have to make use of the top,” mentioned the Spaniard. “He has each. That is why on the ball he’s getting higher and it all the time encourages me that he’ll enhance.
“I believe he can enhance – he’s all the time open minded. I’ve mentioned Manchester Metropolis have a participant and a central defender for a lot of, a few years.”
