Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has revealed that during his side’s Champions League win over RB Leipzig yesterday morning, his father passed away.
Ake nodded in from a Jack Grealish corner to open the scoring, en route to a 6-3 win for City. It was just his second goal for the club since making a $77 million move from Bournemouth last year.
The 26-year-old said his father died just minutes after the goal was scored.
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“The past few weeks have been the toughest of my life, my dad has been very ill and there was no more treatment possible. I was lucky to have a lot of support from my fiancee, family and friends,” Ake wrote on Instagram.
“Yesterday after a difficult time I scored my first Champions League goal, and only a few minutes after he passed away peacefully with my mum and my brother by his side.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CT4h-16oQWR/
“Maybe it was meant to be, watching me play always made him proud and happy. I know you’re always with me, you will always be in my heart and this one was for you dad.”
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It was the opening score in what ended up being a nine-goal thriller, as City were far too strong for their German rivals.
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Pep Guardiola’s men sit outright top of their group after the first matchday, as the might of PSG were stifled by Belgian side Club Brugge.
Despite all three of Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi starting the game, the Parisians couldn’t find an answer for Brugge after both sides scored in the first half.
Manchester City will continue their Premier League campaign this weekend against Southampton.
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