Ukrainian refugee training with Manchester City

Manchester City have been given Premier League permission to let a Ukrainian refugee train with the club

Andrii Kravchuk was on a training camp in Turkey with his Russian club side Torpedo Moscow, when President Putin’s forces entered Ukraine.

The 23-year-old midfielder has since ended his contract and moved to Manchester. He will train with Manchester City’s Under-23s squad for the remainder of the season.

“I was playing in a country that invaded my homeland. Leaving the club was the only decision. People in Ukraine would not understand me if I continued to play there.”

ANDRII KRAVCHUK

Kravchuk’s family remain in Kyiv, where his brother is fighting in the country’s armed forces.

Ukraine defender Oleksandr Zinchenko helped Kravchuk make the move abroad.

The pair played together at youth level at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Ukrainian defender says he is “so grateful” to the English club for the opportunity to train.