Groningen's Albert Rusnak: Manchester City Reject Fighting Back
Neglected by Manchester City, Slovakian midfielder Albert Rusnak, 20, is starring at Groningen.
Emphatically bouncing back, Rusnak is beginning to show Manchester City what a mistake it was to underestimate him.
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"There is a chance for us [Elite Development Squad] players because the way [Manchester City] is now progressing, they want to play the young players. They don't want to just buy the big stars," Rusnak said, per CityTV. "We [need to] hope the chance comes, and when it comes, we have to grab it."
Manchester City never granted Rusnak an extended starting run in the Premier League.
Rusnak's pent-up frustration erupted on loan at Oldham Athletic, where he was not treated as a first-team member.
Then-Oldham Athletic manager Lee Johnson naively thought Rusnak would be OK with playing time in the reserves.
The demotion was planned by Johnson as additional reps, yet perceived by Rusnak as a slap in the face, causing irreconcilable differences between the two.
Refusing to adhere to Johnson's request, Rusnak ensured his loan prematurely ended, per Mike Keegan at the Manchester Evening News.
"[Rusnak] upset me a little bit," Johnson said, per Matthew Chambers at the Oldham Evening Chronicle. "I didn't like the way it ended. It has put me off loans a little bit."
Having met then-Birmingham City manager Lee Clark, Rusnak's second loan mirrored Oldham Athletic, albeit without a controversial walkout.
"We've had a brief chat this morning," Rusnak said, per BluesTV. "[Clark told me] to bring the quality [I showed at Manchester City and] just do it here."
Given 227 minutes, Rusnak's quality was not good enough for Clark.
Rusnak played three Championship games for Birmingham City, appeared in an U21 Professional Development League Two fixture, and was a benchwarmer.
Total Football
Cambuur technical director Marcel Keizer rigorously scouted Rusnak before signing him on loan.
Instead of seeing a No. 11, Keizer was resolute that he had discovered Cambuur's new No. 10.
"Rusnak was mostly used as a right winger in England, but we saw that he likes to drift to the middle," Keizer said, per Voetbal International (h/t Michael Yokhin at ESPN FC). "[Rusnak] has technical skills and good vision."
Unlike Johnson and Clark, Cambuur manager Henk de Jong adjusted his lineup to Rusnak's strengths.
Cambuur's "up and at them" philosophy suited Rusnak.
"It's a step forward to play in the Eredivisie," Rusnak said, per SCCambuurTV. "[Cambuur] play one of the best [brands] of football I've seen."
In Cambuur's 1-1 draw against Twente, Rusnak played as the "1" in a 4-2-1-3, and was given the license to drift across the field.
Rusnak curled a free-kick past Nick Marsman, led Cambuur in key passes (two) and crosses (four).
De Jong's tactically flexible approach enhanced Rusnak's confidence, thus he had misgivings about returning to England.
"Manchester City is following me, so I am told. I prefer to end the season here at Cambuur," Rusnak said, per Algemeen Dagblad (h/t Gerrit van Leeuwen at Sky Sports). "But that decision is not in my hands [and] that is not [a good] feeling."
In an ideal world, Manchester City would have extended Rusnak's expiring contract, therefore barring him from exercising his Bosman right to a free transfer at the end of the season.
Then-Cambuur managing director Gerald van den Belt wanted to prolong Rusnak's deal.
"[Manchester City] allowed him to stay longer with us, although there are still some financial snags on the deal," Van den Belt said, per Voetbal International (h/t Michael Bell at Football Oranje). "If we take him, we would have to pay a [compensation fee of] €80,000/£57,785."
You might be thinking: "Wow, that's cheap!"
Outside the inflated Premier League bubble, there are top-flight European clubs that scrap, struggle and loan their way through a campaign.
Cambuur's record transfer fee in the last five seasons is acquiring Reza Ghoochannejhad from Go Ahead Eagles for €100,000/£88,810 in 2010.
This is why Van den Belt pointed out Cambuur's financial conundrum in signing Rusnak permanently.
Another problem Van den Belt faced was a wealthier club poaching Rusnak knowing Manchester City were desperate to sell.
Unable to convince Rusnak to commit to a new deal in January and fearing he would leave for nothing in the next transfer window, Manchester City sold him to Groningen for a nominal six-figure fee.
Luis Suarez | Nacional → Groningen: €800,000/£553,680 (19 years old; 2006).
Groningen frequently sign cash cows well below their projected transfer value, which proves their scouting and investing are areas they excel at.
In the past, Arjen Robben, Jordi Hoogstrate, Stefan Nijland, Richairo Zivkovic and Virgil van Dijk were all given chances by Groningen despite their inexperience.
This is the context behind Rusnak signing for Groningen, a club with a proven record when it comes to developing players.
"I looked into [Groningen's] history and right now at the moment, there [are] many quality players here, and to get better, you have to play with better players," Rusnak said, per FCGroningenTV. "I hope to improve."
This season, Rusnak has scored 10 goals and provided nine assists in all competitions.
During a five-game run in the Eredivisie, Rusnak scored and created a combined five goals for Groningen.
Displaying versatility, Rusnak can interchange centrally to the left-side under Groningen manager Erwin van de Looi, as evident in a 3-2 win over former team Cambuur.
Able to shoot with either feet, creative, nimble and an incisive passer, Rusnak can also function as a passing outlet, as shown in a 1-1 draw against Excelsior.
Rusnak 1-0 Manchester City
Surging into the box without being picked up, Rusnak does not fully connect with a right-footed volley.
However, Joost Broerse deflects the ball past Warner Hahn—it is a career defining moment for Rusnak.
Evading Rusnak at Manchester City, Oldham Athletic and Birmingham City, luck finally is on his side as he races away hands on ears, celebrating his goal against PEC Zwolle in the KNVB Cup final.
Ten minutes later, Rusnak darts into the box as if he has the cloak of invisibility on, and nonchalantly side-foots the ball past Hahn for his second goal in a 2-0 victory.
FCGroningenTV reporter: "Now you can party on the bus."
Rusnak: "Yes, of course." *smiles*
Exiting Manchester City, Rusnak accomplishes an act his ex-team-mates failed to do this season—win a trophy.
"I'm not setting myself any time limit by when I have to return to the Premier League," Rusnak said, per Henry Winter at the Telegraph. "But it is still my dream to play in the Premier League."
Rusnak might be to Manchester City what Nemanja Matic was to Chelsea from 2011-14—precocious youth talent offloaded cheaply develops into a world-class footballer, thus becoming a source of regret, and is re-signed.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
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