Manchester City’s emergence as a financial superpower coincided with the financial stringency of Arsenal post the construction of the Emirates Stadium which handicapped the Gunners and forced them into plying their trade with a shoestring budget.
The availability of much more appealing glitters and lucre at the blue half of Manchester urged the likes of Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Kolo Toure, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Adebayor to make a move to the home of the Citizens from North London since 2009.
But owing to one reason or the other, Manchester City couldn’t extract the most out of the stupendous right-back in the shape of Sagna, whom they plucked from Arsenal in the summer of 2014 on a free transfer. Under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, the French international was one of the finest defenders in the Premier League.
He possessed an impressive pace, was dominant in the air and was exceptional with the way he ejected shrewd crosses. Frankly speaking, with the class he showed whilst his tenure at the Emirates Stadium, he was unlucky not to have won the Premier League.
After his move to the Etihad Stadium, the scenarios didn’t pan out in the manner in which they were anticipated, as he looked sporadic, lost quite a bit of pace and creativity and didn’t hit the standards he set for himself at Arsenal. He was pencilled merely 17 times on the pitch in the English top division by Pep Guardiola last season.
During the same, he picked just one assist and registered 1.3 tackles, 1 interception, 4.7 clearances and 0.3 blocks per game on an average and it goes without saying that such statistics do not really give an eye-catchy impression. Sagna is now a free agent and it has been reported lately that Newcastle United are plotting a move to acquire his services.
Rafael Benitez masterminded an immediate return for the Magpies back to Premier League after clinching Championship silverware and the Spaniard is looking for veteran defenders with commendable top flight experience to beef up his defence. At this stroke of the hour, it sounds sensible for the 34-year-old to ply his trade in a club where he can rediscover a major chunk of his former self and discharge his duties without humungous expectations being rested on his shoulders.
He is past his prime and with the Toons, he could give Benitez, not only a decent option for the right-back slot, but would also be authorized to guide them to the rendezvous point as well as to inject a winning attitude amongst the minds of the players which the former Napoli boss would have at his disposal next season.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
