Ilkay Gundogan, Carlos Tevez, and several other foreign players have had mixed experiences living in Manchester, citing reasons such as unfavorable weather and culinary preferences.

For many stars, the combination of Manchester’s frequently inclement weather, less-than-favorable cuisine, and overall ambiance has led them to seek transfers away from Manchester United and Manchester City, despite these clubs being among the top in the world.

One notable case involved Dani Alves, who was poised to join Manchester City in the summer of 2017. He was eager to reunite with his former mentor, Pep Guardiola, even going as far as having lunch with him to discuss the upcoming season. Alves had also successfully negotiated an early termination of his contract with Juventus to expedite the move to Manchester City. Everything seemed in place for a deal confirmation, with ‘Here we go’ trending. However, Alves had a change of heart and instead signed with Paris Saint-Germain, much to Guardiola’s disappointment.

The reason for this dramatic shift? At the time, Alves’ wife, Joana Sanz, expressed a preference for living in the ‘City of Light’ (Paris) rather than relocating to the industrial city of Manchester, citing personal preferences.

Other notable examples include Angel Di Maria, Carlos Tevez, and Nolito, all of whom voiced feelings of being somewhat underwhelmed by the city of Manchester. More recently, Ilkay Gundogan’s departure from Manchester City to Barcelona was attributed, in part, to his desire for a change in living environment, with a preference for a warmer climate.

As the transfer market remains active, with numerous players moving in and out of both Manchester clubs, GOAL has delved into the reasons why some foreign players have reservations about living in this city.