Javi García is set to leave Manchester City for Zenit St Petersburg in a deal worth €16.3 million to end his two-season spell at the champions, with the Russian club hopeful of announcing his signature at a press conference tomorrow.
The Spaniard’s transfer is for a fee of €15 million, plus a further €1 million in add-ons, with García having fallen even further behind in Manuel Pellegrini’s thinking after the purchase of Fernando from Porto further strengthened the City manager’s central midfield options.
With Yaya Touré and Fernandinho the established starters in the position, and Eliaquim Mangala’s €40 million arrival this week as a centre-back – where Garcia has been used in an emergency role – the prospects of him enjoying regular first-team action had been greatly reduced.
Automatic choice While Andre Villas-Boas, the Zenit coach, views García as an automatic choice as one of seven overseas players allowed to start league games under Russian football federation rules, if the 27-year-old does depart that would still leave City with 17 non-homegrown players following the arrival of France international Mangala.
This means Pellegrini would have to drop at least one for the allowed quota of 16 for City’s Champions League squad. As Alvaro Negredo could be out until early October due to a metatarsal injury, the striker is the current favourite to be excluded by the manager.
David Silva has signed a new five-year contract with City, with the playmaker stating that winning the Champions League for the club is his burning ambition.
“I’m very happy because I feel great here. I’ve been here four years and this one is my fifth. I’m very happy and excited to extend my contract.”
–(Guardian Service)
