Gvardiol, the most expensive defender in history and the ninth central defender of the ‘Txiki era’ at City

After many rumors, the news broke this Sunday. He City of ManchesterTriplet champion -Champions League, Premier and FA Cup- in the season that just ended, I hope to close a verbal agreement with the defender of RB Leipzig, Josko Guardiol. Now all that remains is to close the agreement between the clubs, although the Croatian will not be cheap for the ‘citizen’ team, because the Germans are asking for 100 million euros for his transfer, which will make Guardiol the most expensive defender in history.

349 million euros in eight plants

The 87 million euros paid by the bank in the summer of 2019 will be gone Manchester Utd through Harry Maguireundoubtedly a massive disappointment for the residents of a city since then Txiki Begiristain He took over the club’s sporting management in October 2012 and spent 349 ‘kilos’ on central defenders.

These are the eight central defenders who, along with the former sports director of FC Barcelona in command of operations, signed the City of Manchester in the past 11 years:

Martin Demichelis

4.5 million euros, from Atlético de Madrid

The current technician River Plate He was the first central defender of the ‘Txiki era’ in city. After his phantom passage through Atletico Madridthat he did not even make his debut in an official match, the Argentine was once again included Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium. He stayed there for three seasons, becoming Premier League champions in the first.

2014-15

Eliakim Mangala

45 million euros, Porto

He surprised the whole of Europe by building a pair of power stations otamendi in a Porto who also had Danilo and Alex Sandro on the railway. As a ‘citizen’, he made over thirty games in his first two seasons, but the arrival of Pep Guardiola closed the doors, forced him to leave to surrender Valencia and Everton. In 2019, he definitely broke up with city to return to Mestalla, where he stayed for two years before trying his luck at Saint-Ettiene French. He currently does not have a team.

2015-16

Nicholas Otamendi

44.5 million euros, Valencia

After signing what is surely his best elite course, the recently crowned world champion Argentina change Valencia through Manchester, where he played 210 games and won nine titles -two Premier Leagues, four Carabao Cups, two Community Shields and one FA Cup- in five years. This month he renewed to Benfica until 2025.

2016-17

John Stones

€55.6 million, Everton

The last trick out of the hat Pep said Guardiola. He signed when he was only 22 years old and alternated periods of greater and lesser fame, until the season that ended recently the Santpedor coach promoted his position, becoming a ‘midfielder’ that was key to achieving of Treble by the city.

Aymeric Laporte

65 million euros, Athletic Club

Like stonesthe Spanish international has had campaigns where he was undisputed, such as 2018-19 or 2021-22… And others where he became the third or fourth option for Guardiola on the rear axis. In the latter one he played just 12 games in the Premier League and four in the Champions League, three of them in the group stage.

2020-21

Ruben Dias (Benfica)

71.6 million euros, Benfica

A cost that was questioned by many and justified only months after he signed. The man from Amadora emerged as the leader of the ‘skyblue’ defense from the start and was selected as the best footballer in the Premier League in his first season.

2020-21

Nathan Ake

€45.3 million, Bournemouth

The importance of the Dutchman, who is about to leave for Chelsea last summer, it has increased over time: 13 games in 2020-21, 27 in 2021-22… And 41 in 2022-23, starting with the Champions League final before the Kyle Walker.

2022-23

Manuel Akanji

€17.5 million, Borussia Dortmund

One of the great surprises in the Triplet City. The Swiss international has arrived quietly and is set to be fifth in the squad at the back Ruben Dias, Laporte, Stones and Akebut became strong in the line of three in which he decided to join Pep Guardiola since January, as the one who has played the most games -48- of them all.