Manchester City make Eliaquim Mangala £32m move

Manchester City, 5/2 to retain the Premier League title, have announced the signing of French centre back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto for a reported fee of £32m.

The player has been linked to the top-flight champions all summer, though is understandably delighted to have finally joined.

“City is a top club in Europe. 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,” Mangala said.

“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 [Bacary] Sagna, [Gael] Clichy and [Samir] Nasri,” he continued.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge, and I now need to settle in quickly and be ready for the season.”

New manager Manuel Pellegrini is also happy to have got the signing over the line, as he looks to shore up a defence that leaked three against Arsenal in the Community Shield defeat.

“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,” City’s Chilean coach added.

“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.”