Few might have predicted the rise of Antoine Semenyo.
The Bournemouth star has been one of many shining lights this season having registered eight objectives and 4 assists within the Premier League.
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Three of these objectives have come towards Manchester Metropolis, Manchester United and Chelsea.
It is a far cry from the place Semenyo was lower than a decade in the past.
As just lately as 2017, the 25-year-old was a member of South Gloucestershire and Stroud Faculty’s soccer academy.
However Semenyo, who had trials with Tottenham and Arsenal as a teen, was plucked from relative obscurity by Championship aspect Bristol Metropolis.
It was the possibility Semenyo had longed for, but there was one main challenge.
He was, in former Robins boss Lee Johnson’s phrases, ‘a few stone obese’.
Talking on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee and Jacobs, Johnson defined the way it shortly grew to become a club-wide effort to overtake Semenyo’s off-pitch life-style and whip him into form.
“He did not have the information, did he?” Johnson mentioned.
“He did not have the pedigree, he hadn’t actually come by an academy. Like I say, he was taking part in on the school.
“All people on the membership needed to put a number of effort in.
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“However on the finish of the day, the participant has nonetheless acquired to purchase into that and implement these adjustments.”
Semenyo was greater than prepared to undertake the wholesale adjustments to his food plan and it paid off as Johnson handed him his Robins debut in Might 2018 towards Sheffield United.
The 25-year-old went on to make 125 appearances and netted 21 objectives for Bristol Metropolis throughout all competitions earlier than the Premier League and Bournemouth got here calling in January 2023.
The Cherries snapped him up for simply £10.5m, however now look poised to make a major revenue given Liverpool and Chelsea are linked with a swoop for Semenyo, whereas talkSPORT understands Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr have an interest within the participant too.
Ought to a transfer to an English large eventuate, few can be happier than Johnson.
“It is nice to see,” Johnson mentioned.
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“Once you see younger gamers that you have given debuts to go on and do very well it is actually rewarding.”
Johnson added: “It simply goes to point out that expertise is in all places and you may’t be closed off to recognising that expertise.
“Give them the fitting setting, develop them and you have got a proper likelihood.”