City bolstered by Dias

MANCHESTER City has announced the signing of Portuguese international centreback Ruben Dia son a sixyear deal from Benfica.

Benfica on Sunday confirmed it had reached an agreement to sell Dias for 68 million euros ($112m) plus an extra 3.6 million euros ($6m) in potential bonuses.

Nicolas Otamendi will head in the opposite direction for 15 million euros ($25m ).

“To have the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity for mean done I couldn’ t turn down,” said Dias in a City statement.

“Their success speaks for itself. They have been the dominant team in England over the last few years, playing an attacking brand of football which I feel suits my own game.

“It is really exciting to be part of such a talented squad and to play for a world-class manager like Pep Guardiola, who has a proven track record of developing young players like myself .”

Benfica coach Jorge Jesus said at the weekend that selling Dias was necessary for the club to balance its accounts after a defeat by Greek side PAOK in the third qualifying round of the Champions League ended its hopes of reaching the group stage.

Dias becomes City’s third signing of the summer after bringing in centre-back Nathan Ake from Bournemouth and Spanish winger Ferran Torres.

The need for more defensive reinforcements was evident as City was thrashed 5-2 at home to Leicester on Sunday—the first time a Guard iola side has ever conceded five in his managerial career.

City director of football Txiki Begiristain said :“Ruben is a player we have admired for some time and we have been impressed with how he has progressed at Benfica .”

Otamendi, 32, won several honours during his time at the Etihad, including two Premier League titles, and made more than 200 appearances.