Tijjani Reijnders has confirmed what many suspected: he didn't fancy another season as a No.10. The Dutch midfielder, sold to Al Qadsiah this summer, has spoken about his City exit for the first time.

His explanation is straightforward. He didn't enjoy the role he was being asked to play under Pep Guardiola, and he had a sense that Enzo Maresca would use him in a similar position. So he decided to look elsewhere.

"In pre-season, I noticed that things were heading in that direction again at City, and I started thinking about whether I wanted another season like that."

That was the crux of it. Reijnders wasn't eager to fulfil the No.10 role once again, and Maresca evidently didn't see him as a midfielder either. The writing was on the wall long before the transfer window closed.

In possession, there's no doubt Reijnders is a quality player. His work out of possession and lack of strength in duels cost him a role in City's midfield. The physicality of the Premier League was a step too far.

He fell out of favour with Guardiola towards the back end of last season despite showing early promise. Maresca did utilise him during the preseason tour of Asia, but by then the midfielder had already made up his mind.

"The honest answer was no," Reijnders said of whether he wanted to continue in that role. "I wanted to look elsewhere, and then I heard from the club that I was allowed to do so."

City ultimately accommodated the move to Al Qadsiah, and the financial package was too much for Reijnders to turn down. He has been open about his reasons, citing a desire to set up his family and grandchildren for life after football.

"You can always play the moralist, but I think everyone would say yes to that."

He added: "I don't want to have to work anymore after my career. I didn't need to after City either. But now I can also set up future generations of my family well."

It's a pragmatic decision, and one that leaves City with a midfield to rebuild. The club signed Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, and Ayyoub Bouaddi in the summer. A significant overhaul, and one that likely wouldn't have been necessary had Reijnders possessed the physical attributes to make it in the Premier League.

That's the takeaway. Reijnders is a quality footballer, but not every quality footballer fits every league. City have moved on, and so has he.