Manchester City defender Nathan Ake has paid tribute to his dad who died shortly after he scored his first Champions League goal for the Cityzens.
The Dutch international scored City’s opening goal in the 16th minute, as they went on to beat RB Leipzig 6-3 in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
However, in a tribute the 26-year-old posted on Instagram, he revealed that his dad died – from an undisclosed illness – few minutes after he scored, adding that “maybe it was meant to be.”
“The past few weeks have been the toughest of my life, my dad was very ill and there was no more treatment possible,” Ake wrote on social media. “I was lucky to have a lot of support from my fiance, family and friends.
“Yesterday after a difficult time I scored my first Champions League goal, and only a few minutes after he passed away peacefully with my mum and brother by his side.
“Maybe it was meant to be, watching me play always made him proud and happy. I know you’re always with me, you’ll always be in my heart and this one was for you dad.”
Ake signed for Man City from Bournemouth in August 2020, and helped them to Premier League success last season.