Manchester City have been subject to some heavy defeats this season both in the league and in their European campaign, which include the 4-0 defeat against Barcelona, the shocking 4-2 loss to Leicester City and the latest of them being away at Everton last month.
A tactically compact team with a genius at the helm has often got their back line wrong this season leaving it exposed in their fluid style of play. And one of the main reasons for that has been Pep Guardiola’s experimentation at the back. While it has been difficult to adapt for most defenders, the interchanging of positions as well as roles, one of the few to have held it decently is their centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.
The 29-year-old is an important member of Pep Guardiola’s first team and has played 20 times in the Premier League so far, this season and his impressive displays have garnered interests from European giants Real Madrid, as per reports. The Spanish side are looking for a long-term replacement for their ageing centre-back Pepe, who is expected to leave when his contract runs out in the summer.
And although any formal offer is yet to made owing to their transfer ban, Otamendi’s agent Martin Sendoa has already clarified that the player won’t deny himself a move if Los Blancos come knocking at the door.
Revealing that Real have been monitoring Otamendi’s development since his time with Valencia, he told Radio Continental: “Nico has a profile similar to Pepe’s, who’d leave at the end of the season. Madrid have followed him since his time at Valencia, just like Barça, but it didn’t go any further. Nico is happy at City, but who wouldn’t like to play at Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world?”
The 33-year-old has been the first choice at Santiago Bernabeu for long now after Raphael Varane took over the reins from him. Pepe’s style play has always been physical, who used his big frame to outmuscle his opponents win aerial duels and Zidane thinks Otamendi could perfectly take his place, who possess similar attributes.
A centre-back by nature, Otamendi can also play as a right-back. The Argentina international is known for his timely tackles and good game reading abilities, which makes him a great interceptor of the ball. Discipline, however, has been an issue with him which is something Real Madrid will be wary of. He has already picked up eight yellow cards this season in 20 appearances and it could be a big factor in hindering his progress.
