How a bison nearly blocked Reijnders' AC Milan move! | OneFootball

Tijjani Reijnders explains how his 2022 move to AC Milan was almost scuppered while on holiday in Tanzania on the latest episode of the official Man City Podcast.

The Dutch international joined City from the Italian giants this summer, after winning Serie A midfielder of the year in 2024/25.

Reijnders established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe during his two years at the San Siro, having joined from AZ Alkmaar in his native Netherlands in 2023.

But on the latest episode of the Official Man City Podcast, the midfielder explained the bizarre way his move to Milan almost didn't materialise.

"It was my wife's birthday so we arranged a private dinner outside. I knew I had a phone call with the technical director and coach from AC Milan, but we were in the wilderness," Reijnders began.

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"I said 'can we go' but they said we had to wait because there were some big bison there, so we had to get them away!

"It was finished, the bison were gone and we finished dinner, but I didn't have time to go back to our tent, so I was outside in the wild talking to the Technical Director and coach of AC Milan.

"I was done with the call and had to go back to the tent, we were walking back and it was pitch dark. All of a sudden we heard something and the guard shone his light and said 'okay it's a bison'.

"Ten metres away I saw this bison and was like 'we have to run'."

WATCH: Official Man City Podcast Episode 64 | Tijjani Reijnders

After two impressive seasons in Milan, Reijnders made the move to City this summer to link up with Pep Guardiola's squad ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup.

In doing so, he joined fellow Dutch international Nathan Ake, who he says gave him a glowing review of life in Manchester ahead of the move.

"I asked him about how it is here in Manchester, because everyone has a view of England that it's only raining.

"He said of course in the winter it's raining and it's cold, but it's kind of similar to Holland. He only had good things to say about the team and life here.

"Luckily he wasn't lying to me, me and my family are really enjoying life here in Manchester. You have some good restaurants and also lots of nice things to do with your kids.

"There are enough things to do, it's good and we can't complain."

Listen to Tijjani's full episode of the Official Man City Podcast by subscribing to CITY+!

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