Analysis of the Boateng move

Confirmation from mcfc.co.uk of the news that was reported at the weekend:

Jerome Boateng has left City to return to Germany and join Bayern Munich.

Berlin-born Boateng signed last summer from Hamburg but found his progress at the Club hampered by injury and fierce competition, making only 16 League appearances and missing the Cup Final.

The 22-year-old full-back or central defender was on the summer tour of North America but flew to Germany late last week to finalise terms with Bayern. Everyone at the Club wishes him well for the future.

At the time of his signing it looked a very good move yet never quite materialised  during his twelve-month stay at the club. He was the type of player that Roberto Mancini was looking to bring in: young and talented but hungry and with plenty of upside in terms of development.

There were only fleeting moments of his talent though. Boateng never made the most of his size and physique: little wonder he would find it difficult to obtain a regular position and made just 16 Premier League appearances.

The surprise was that after impressing for Germany in the 2010 World Cup (following his signing) he looked to be the player to solve the problem right-back position yet come the end of the 2010/11 season Boateng finished behind the resurgent Micah Richards and dependable Pablo Zabeleta.

The two partnerships between Vincent Kompany/Kolo Toure and Vincent Kompany/Joleon Lescott left him very much on the sidelines: the addition of Stefan Savic allowing for his return to Germany to be complete after some wrangling over the fee.

As well as having difficulties in settling in at the club, a succession of niggling injuries restricted his opportunity in the middle, making only four appearances as part of a central partnership:

Partnership Competition # of Games Record Win % Conceded GAA Clean sheets
Boateng/Lescott League - - - - - -
Boateng/Lescott Cup 2 W1D1L0 50% 1 0.5 0
Boateng/Lescott Overall 2 W1D1L0 50% 1 0.5 0
Boateng/Kompany League 1 W0D1L0 0% 2 2 0
Boateng/Kompany Cup - - - - - -
Boateng/Kompany Overall 1 W0D1L0 0% 2 2 0
Toure/Boateng League - - - - - -
Toure/Boateng Cup 1 W0D1L0 0% 0 0 1
Toure/Boateng Overall 1 W0D1L0 0% 0 0 1

The move will suit Boateng having never quite settled at City. He will line up for Bayern as part of a central pairing and joins at a time where they are retooling following the dismissal of Louis Van Gaal and is another addition of a young German international - one who frustratingly could have a stellar career in front of him.

Boateng's City numbers (Premier League only):

• Shots on target: 4
• Shots off target: 6
• Pass completed: 73%
• Open play passes: 550
• Crosses: 41
• Accurate passes: 433
• Accurate crosses: 5
• Interceptions: 20
• Goals: 0
• Assists: 0
• Chances created: 7
• Tackles won: 37/45
• Possession won: 76/139
• Aerial duels won: 15/28