The Manchester City squad were left in tears when Vincent Kompany surprised them with the news he would be leaving the club after the FA Cup final.
The defender gave an emotional speech to his teammates following the 6-0 win against Watford at Wembley back in May where he confirmed last season would be his final one at the club after 11 years.
Footage of the speech has since been released and left-back Aleks Zinchenko revealed the reaction from the players was one of sadness and surprise.
"Nobody knew he was going to say it. I was crying to be honest because nobody was waiting for that, especially me," Zinchenko said. "But that’s football, nobody knows what could happen."
The 22-year-old took the news particularly hard because Kompany had been working with him closely to help him improve.
"Last season Vincent Kompany was helping me a lot," he said. "Outside the pitch, inside the pitch, about this position. I remember a few times he took me after some training sessions, he was working with me around 40 minutes or something to try and help me."
Kompany has now gone to Anderlecht to be player-manager but despite his departure Zinchenko will still be looking to get advice from his former captain and doesn't see any reason why the Belgium international can't come back to manage at the Etihad.
"Definitely. I would like to be in touch with him," the full-back said. "For me he is absolutely a life legend. I am so lucky.
"Why not? He can be the City manager. He is the smartest guy I know."
Oleksandr Zinchenko was speaking at the Manchester City fanzone at PUMA’s flagship store in Shanghai, during the club’s pre-season tour of Asia.
