Six years ago, Iliman Ndiaye was taking the train from Sheffield to Hyde to play in non-league football.

Now, the “showman” is on the brink of becoming a £60 million star at Manchester City.

Ndiaye, who departed Everton in the summer, is set to secure a place in City’s squad—beginning tomorrow against Aston Villa—after right winger Antoine Semenyo was sidelined for eight weeks due to a knee injury.

It’s just eight miles from Hyde to the Etihad Stadium, but Ndiaye’s journey has been remarkable.

No one better understands the remarkable journey of the Senegal international than David McGurk.

Former York and Darlington defender McGurk managed seventh-tier Hyde United, where he signed Ndiaye on loan from Sheffield United in January 2020.

Within weeks, McGurk and his team realized they had found something exceptional.

McGurk, 44, who also played for Hyde during the 2016-17 season, remarked: “I’ve played professionally for 16 years and have never encountered a talent like his.”

“It’s always challenging to predict if a player will reach the highest level.”

“Iliman arrived at Hyde, performed admirably, and quickly gained the attention of Paul Heckingbottom, who was the United manager at that time.”

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“He adapted seamlessly to the level and soon became one of their standout players.”

At Manchester-based Hyde, which was then competing in the Northern Premier League, Ndiaye arrived at a stage where defenders were seasoned professionals, toughened by years in non-league football. However, according to McGurk, once he received the ball, the age difference became insignificant.

McGurk stated: “He was a generally reserved kid, but not on the field.”

“He was tenacious, focused on his game, and let his football do the talking.”

“Defenders either couldn’t keep up with him or he was too skillful to evade them.”

“Some tried to be aggressive and rough him up, but even at a young age, he was quite strong. He had a solid core strength, which allowed him to withstand many of those challenges.”

“Most were unaware of his abilities, leading to them being caught off guard by his speed.”

McGurk noticed that Ndiaye, who grew up in France and whose father, Mouhamadou Abdoulaye, was a professional choreographer, still had room for growth. There was one game when he missed a few chances and was feeling low.

But McGurk didn’t hold back and told him, “You’re destined for the highest levels, but you must convert those opportunities.”

“You could clearly see that aspects of his game needed refinement, particularly concerning his end product and decision-making.”

Off the pitch, McGurk described a humble and unassuming young man who was solely focused on playing football, traveling by train most days from Sheffield.

McGurk reflected: “Iliman had no pretentiousness about him.”

“He was quite street-smart, managing his life effectively and doing everything possible to play the game he loved.”

Ndiaye, who also spent a season in France with Marseille, only featured in nine matches for Hyde before the Covid pandemic abruptly halted the season.

Yet, those appearances were significant enough to make a lasting impact.

There was even an instance when McGurk had to advise his young prodigy to tone down his flair.

He recalled: “We did have to caution Iliman in one match to be mindful with his tricks and flicks. We were leading 5-2, and he was showing off a bit, but that was just how he played.”

Former Blades manager Heckingbottom is confident that Ndiaye will meet the expectations tied to his price, as City acquired him from the Toffees on September 1 for an initial £60 million plus an additional £5 million in potential add-ons.

He said: “He’s reserved and shy, but when he steps onto the pitch, it’s his stage, and he transforms into a showman.”

“He’s quite comfortable orchestrating a stadium during his goal celebrations or when he has the ball.”

“While many prefer him wide, I prefer him in a central role.”

“I always advise everyone working with him to play him centrally. I believe smaller spaces create tighter margins.”

“He’s a fantastic young talent, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed our time together. His journey has been delightful for me.”

“He has consistently risen to every challenge, and I have no doubt he will do the same at City.”

“He was likely on the verge of leaving Sheffield United, but letting someone like him slip away was out of the question.”

“When I managed the Under-23s, I mirrored the first team’s strategies and started engaging with him.”

“I recognized how bright and talented he was back then.”

“One of my fondest memories is when they announced the 2022 World Cup squad; he had just made it into the Senegal team, and all the Sheffield United lads were around him when it was announced.”

“His was the last name read, and the cheers erupted. He has a genuine appeal that resonates with everyone.”

McGurk and co-founder, former York manager Michael Morton, run Tactx, a service that analyzes games and develops training sessions for grassroots coaches through a subscription model.