Ruben Dias: Manchester City signs Benfica defender for £ 65m | Football news

Manchester City have signed Benfica defender Ruben Dias for £ 65m, and Nicolas Otamendi is moving in the opposite direction.

The deal for Dias has an initial value of £ 62 million, with another £ 3 million subject to add-ons, and was confirmed in a statement from Benfica on Sunday night following City’s 5-2 loss at home to Leicester.

In the statement, the Portuguese club said it had agreed to a separate fee of € 15 million (£ 13.6 million) to sign Otamendi.

Dias, who becomes City’s third signing of the summer following the arrivals of Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres, has signed a six-year contract at Etihad, where he will wear jersey number 3.

“Having the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for me and one that I couldn’t turn down,” Dias told the club’s website.

“Their success speaks for itself. They have been the dominant team in England for the past few years, playing offensive football that I think suits my own game.”

“It is really exciting to be part of such a talented team and to play for a world-class coach like Pep Guardiola, who has a proven track record in developing young players like me.

“I believe that I can improve here, in a club whose ambitions coincide with mine and I will give everything to succeed and win titles.”

Guardiola had been looking for a right central since Vincent Kompany left last year.

Dias has impressed for three seasons at Benfica and was on the Portuguese team at the 2018 World Cup.

The 23-year-old scored and was the team captain in Benfica’s 2-0 win over Moreirense on Saturday, after which he was photographed hugging Benfica’s sporting director Rui Costa.

The city’s football director, Txiki Begiristain, added: “Rubén is a player we have admired for a while and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica.

“He has become a true leader and as a defender, he has all the attributes we are looking for. He is strong in the air, good in one-on-one situations and technically, he is very good, so we are sure that he can thrive in our system. .

“He is young but has experience playing for a top European club at Benfica and we are very happy to have signed him.

“He is another talented addition to the team and someone who will only get better working with Pep.”

Kalidou Koulibaly had been City’s main target, but Napoli’s sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli said recently Heaven in italy the defender would stay with the Serie A team this summer, while Sevilla’s Jules Kounde was also previously linked with a move to the Etihad.

City also denied making a £ 78 million offer for Atlético de Madrid central defender José Giménez after the La Liga club president claimed he had rejected an offer for the central defender.

Otamendi, 32, won two Premier League titles with City following his arrival from Valencia in 2015.

“They were five wonderful years, not only in the football sense, but also in a club where they treat you in the best possible way, from the chefs to the uniformed, to the back room staff,” Otamendi told the club’s website .

“I have had the opportunity to win two Premier Leagues, to win the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Community Shield. If you win titles it is because you are doing things well, so I am happy to have enjoyed these moments, and more than grateful.

“I was lucky from the first year I arrived to win a trophy, and then with the arrival of Pep to win even more. I am happy to have played my part, with the support of my teammates and staff.”

‘Key days for Guardiola’s future at Man City’

Speaking on Monday Night Football, Jamie Carragher of Sky Sports said:

“I look at Dias coming in and I think the stakes are high for Man City with this signing.

“I think if this signing doesn’t work out and he’s not a great success, I don’t think City can win the league. I don’t see Pep Guardiola staying at the club next season, certainly if he doesn’t win the league. League. Such. Maybe if they win the league, I could sign a new contract, but then I think it’s moot too.

“And that is the great fear for me for Manchester City and this Pep project, there is a lot at stake in this.

“This is the guy who will replace Vincent Kompany, if you want. £ 65 million, a huge figure again, but if this doesn’t work out, I think it’s possibly the end of Pep’s project.”

‘Pep’s defenders are not good enough’

Speaking after City’s 5-2 loss to Leicester, Gary Neville of Sky Sports said:

“They were so good in the first 25 minutes, but as soon as Leicester broke them a couple of times, you felt like, psychologically, it just damaged them.

“Some of the wounds from last season are reappearing. The mistakes that cost them the title. You can certainly get to this Manchester City four behind much faster than before. They don’t seem to react in transition higher as they did.”

On the three penalties: “Three different players making the same basic mistake. Recklessness. Naivety. Whatever you want to call it, he’s there on that baseline. Pep Guardiola is looking to see if he can defend his players but I’m not sure.” he can.

“His defenders are not good enough, whatever you look at it. He’s a great coach, one of the best coaches of all time. But one by one, once his defenders are in those positions, they’re really poor. almost as if in their mind they couldn’t understand the fact that someone has them on the goal side. “

Summer Transfer Period: Key Dates and Times

The summer transfer window closes at 11 p.m. on Monday, October 5 with an activity party lined up at Transfer deadline in Sky Sports News Y on our Sky Sports platforms.

A national-only window for deals between the Premier League and the EFL runs from October 5 and closes on Friday, October 16 at 5 p.m. Follow all news and analysis on SSN and to the other side Sky sports‘digital platforms, even with our dedicated Transfer Center blog.