Inter Milan face Manchester City in the Champions League final on Saturday, with the potential for 37-year-old Edin Dzeko to cap off his star-studded career with a Champions League winners’ medal. Dzeko was cast off by the Citizens eight years ago, but his goals helped propel them to two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and an EFL Cup. If anyone can stop Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering side, it might just be the “intelligent”, “influential” forward out to seek revenge on his former club. In the semi-final first leg against AC Milan, Dzeko scored the crucial opener with a hooked left-footed volley into the top corner. His work-rate and hold-up play continuously created chances for team-mates, showing his technical ability and intelligence. City fans will always remember Dzeko for his dramatic 92nd-minute leveller against Queens Park Rangers on the final day of the 2011-12 season, which set up Sergio Aguero’s legendary winner. Without Dzeko, there would be no Aguero moment.
Dzeko began his football career in 2003 at local side Zeljeznicar, before moving to Czechian outfit FK Teplice and then on to Felix Magath’s Wolfsburg in 2007. He scored 85 goals in 142 appearances for Wolfsburg, helping them lift the Bundesliga title in 2009 for the first time in the club’s history. Dzeko joined City for £27m in January 2011 and went on to help them win their first trophy for 35 years. After helping City to two Premier League titles, Dzeko left for Roma, at first on loan and then permanently in October 2015. He was Serie A’s top scorer in the 2016-17 season, before moving to Inter six years later where he has lifted the Coppa Italia in each of his past two campaigns. His career should not be underestimated; he has been the top scorer in two of the top five leagues and is a big-game player. With a potential Champions League winners’ medal, Dzeko could be set to write another chapter in his remarkable story.