PEP’S RUBEN HIS HANDS WITH SIGNING
PEP GUARDIOLA has taken his spending on defenders through the £ 400million barrier at Manchester City with £65m club record signing Ruben Dias.
City last night confirmed the signing of Portugal international Dias from Benfica on a six-year deal, the 23-year-old entrusted with shoring up their leaky defence.
Since taking charge at City in 2016, Guardiola has spent big on his defence, but still has problems at the back, as shown by Sunday’s 5-2 mauling at home to Leicester.
Centre-back Dias has been brought in to address those frailties, with City defender Ni c o l a s Otamendi moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
Dias said: “To have the chance to join a club like Manchester City is fantastic for me.
“Their success speaks for itself. They have been the dominant team in England over the last few years.
“It’s really exciting to be part of such a talented squad and to play for a world class manager like Pep, who has a proven track record of developing young players like myself.
“I can improve here at a club whose ambitions match my own.”
City sporting director Txiki Begiristain said: “Ruben is a player we’ve admired for some time and we’ve been impressed wi th how he has progressed at Benfica.”
Sky pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists the signing of Dias must come off for Guardiola.
Guardiola is already in the final year of his contract and has yet to agree a contract extension, and Carragher said: “I look at Dias coming in and there’s really a lot at stake.”
Tonight, at Burnley, the EFL Cup provides Guardiola and his players with the chance to atone for Sunday.
But City’s success is measured in the Premier League and Champions League. At the moment, both look unlikely for City and Guardiola.