Nicolas Otamendi has signed for Manchester City from Valencia on a five-year deal, becoming the fourth Argentina international in the squad of the current Premier League leaders.
City announced the transfer of the 27-year-old defender on Thursday on a five-year deal. The fee was not disclosed, but British media are reporting Otamendi will cost City about €40 million (Dh164m).
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, “Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I’m delighted to have added a player of his quality.”
Otamendi will bolster central defensive ranks at City that include two familiar faces in former FC Porto teammate Eliaquim Mangala and international colleague Martin Demichelis, as well as captain Vincent Kompany.
Otamendi told the club’s website, “I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles.
“That’s most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.”
Valencia were believed to be hoping to use the sale of the player to write off part of the fee they still owe City for striker Alvaro Negredo.
Otamendi joined the Spanish club from Porto just a year ago. Initial reports at the weekend claimed Valencia wanted to offset his loss by signing Mangala on loan in exchange but City had no intention of allowing the Frenchman to leave Eastlands.
Added Pellegrini:
“He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.”
Otamendi has 25 caps for Argentina and was a member of the side that reached the Copa America final in the summer alongside new City teammates Demichelis, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta.
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