The France centre-back was in Manchester in July to complete a medical after the two clubs agreed a £31.8 million deal.
City
had tried to sign Mangala during the January transfer window but the
Portuguese club held firm, despite the investment trust which owns part
of his economic rights willing to do a deal.
The Premier League
champions also unsuccessfully attempted to sign Mangala's team-mate,
Brazilian midfielder Fernando, in the winter window, but announced his
signing during the World Cup.
“City is a top club in Europe,"
Mangala told the club's official website. "For me, it was an important
step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my
progress. I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am
ambitious and this is why I am here.
“I’m very happy to come to
England because for me, the Premier League is the best league in the
world. It is a very intense and very aggressive competition. There are
plenty of goals, so it is also really nice to watch and I can’t wait to
get started!
“The fact that Fernando is here is better because I
played with him at Porto but there is also other players that I know
like Sagna, Clichy and Nasri."
City had prioritised the capture
of an elite central defender to partner Vincent Kompany, and the
23-year-old Frenchman becomes the club's sixth summer signing after
Bacary Sagna, Fernando, Willy Caballero, Frank Lampard and Bruno
Zuculini.
pellegrin comment on the new signing "I’m delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim’s quality in the squad ahead of the new season. He is already a fine player but in my opinion, he has all of the mental, physical, technical and tactical attributes to become one of Europe’s very best defenders. Eliaquim is a player I believe will make an immediate impact in the Premier League, thanks to his physicality, his reading of the game and quality on the ball. I think he will prove to be a great signing for us."
ReplyDelete