Former Ghana youth star, Ransford Osei has stated that due to stern English Premier League transfer rules he was unable to sign for Manchester City in 2007.
The then 17-year-old opportunistic goal machine was on the radar of most top European clubs but the regular Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria, which was approved by the Home Office prevented him from sealing a deal to the dominant force in English football, who were on the back of hefty investment.
"I had an opportunity to move to Manchester City, where I stayed for three months, where they arranged for my work permit, but there was this rule that you must have played 75 per cent with the Black Stars, so it was difficult for me to secure one, and I had to leave for Israel," he told King Jersey TV.
However, in 2008 Osei completed a move to Israeli side Maccabi Haifa on loan. He subsequently signed a three-year contract.
By: Pascal Nii Gogo Amoah
