Semenyo reveals: "My mother's message made me give up my goal celebration" | OneFootball

Semenyo drops his iconic backflip... because of his mother

Antoine Semenyo / @x.com/Footballdayy10/

Ghanaian Antoine Semenyo, a Manchester City player, has shed light on the behind-the-scenes of his move to the Sky Blues. He also explained why he has given up his now-iconic goal celebration, while touching on his relationship with Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland.

In an interview with (CBS Sports), the Black Stars international revealed that Manchester City’s interest, which began as early as December, led him to pray a lot before making his decision. He stated that faith and prayer played a decisive role in this crucial step in his career.

Speaking about Pep Guardiola, Semenyo admitted he felt some apprehension upon learning he would be coached by the Spanish manager, but ultimately saw it as a rare privilege to work under one of the world’s best tacticians.

The most surprising revelation concerns the end of his trademark celebration: the backflip. After scoring against Tottenham, Semenyo received a direct message from his mother asking him why he was still performing the move.

"After my goal against Tottenham, my mother wrote to me and asked why I was still doing backflips. So I decided to stop for good," he explained.

Finally, the Ghanaian forward praised his relationship with Erling Haaland, highlighting how the Norwegian striker helped him quickly settle into the dressing room, fostering an environment that is both competitive and welcoming.