Ghana and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo has revealed that he briefly walked away from football at the age of 15 after being rejected by Crystal Palace following a final trial.
Semenyo explained that the disappointment prompted him to step away from the sport and focus on enjoying a more conventional teenage life, something he felt he had missed during his early years in football.
“I stopped playing football at 15 when Crystal Palace rejected me after my final trial there. At that point, I told myself, ‘Now I just want to be normal,’” Semenyo said.
The forward recalled how demanding his routine had been between the ages of 11 and 14, with football dominating almost every aspect of his life.
“From the age of 11 to 14, it was always the same: wake up, go to school, train, come home. That was my routine. I couldn’t be ‘normal’,” he explained.
Semenyo said his commitment to football meant missing out on social activities with friends, including parties and other experiences that were part of growing up.
“I couldn’t go to parties, I couldn’t spend time with my friends… I missed all of that. After the rejection, I focused on school and enjoyed spending time with my friends. I really appreciated that period of my life,” he added.
Despite eventually returning to football and building a successful professional career, Semenyo says he has no regrets about the decision to take a break.
“Looking back, I’m really happy I stopped playing football at that time. I had missed so many parties… (laughs)! At that time, I just felt ‘normal’. It was nice.”
Semenyo’s career has since taken a remarkable turn, with the forward going from being rejected at youth level to establishing himself as a Premier League player and a key figure for Ghana.
His story serves as a reminder that setbacks in football do not necessarily define a player’s future, with Semenyo ultimately finding his way back to the game and reaching the highest level.
