Abdukodir Khusanov driving Uzbekistan fan market as Manchester City ticket sales surge after January signing | OneFootball

Manchester City are seeing a growing influx of supporters from Uzbekistan purchasing tickets and travelling to the Etihad Stadium, as per a new report.

The £33.6 million arrival of Abdukodir Khusanov from Ligue 1 club RC Lens has alleviated Pep Guardiola’s gruesome troubles in central defence, with the 21-year-old already one of the first names on the Manchester City teamsheet.

City’s centre half quartet of Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and John Stones have all faced fitness issues this season and Khusanov’s raw, old-school way of defending has been a much-needed breath of fresh air in the squad and around the training ground.

Khusanov’s Premier League career kicked off in perhaps the most undesirable fashion, gifting Chelsea and Noni Madueke the opener three minutes into his Manchester City debut at the Etihad Stadium – before receiving a yellow card for fouling Cole Palmer a few minutes later.

However, the Uzbekistan international – the first player from his nation to play in the Premier League – has become a cult hero amongst Manchester City fans amidst a strange season marred by a collective drop in form and results.

City are fighting for a top-four Premier League finish and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 to leave themselves fighting for an eighth FA Cup title – ahead of a quarter-final tie against Bournemouth – to salvage their season and pick up some silverware along the way.

Khusanov is expected to retain his starting place when City face the Cherries at the weekend after scoring an unfortunate own goal in his side’s recent 2-2 draw at home to Brighton and Hove Albion.

According to Simon Bajkowski writing for the Manchester Evening News, the arrival of Khusanov in January has surged ticket sales to supporters travelling from Uzbekistan to the Etihad Stadium to watch Khusanov play.

Khusanov was gifted a Mercedes Benz G-Class upon his arrival to international duty last week, with the recently engaged Manchester City defender also meeting with and presenting Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev with a Manchester City jersey.

City gave a peak through the curtain into their upcoming rebuild when they spent £181.5 million to sign Khusanov, Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez in January – and securing the arrival of Khusanov might be the best bit of transfer business the club will end up doing in a few years.