Nicolas Otamendi Signing Brings Competition for Places at Manchester City

Manchester City completed the signing of Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi on Thursday after he passed a medical and put pen to paper on a five-year deal.

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#mcfc are delighted to announce the signing of @Notamendi30 Full story: http://t.co/liMiPMjOae #WelcomeNicolas pic.twitter.com/1yrH3NYDmz

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 20, 2015"

The Argentine will cost City around £34 million and is expected to stake a strong claim for a starting place immediately upon arrival. City found themselves in pole postion to sign the defender due to Valencia still owing the Blues money for Alvaro Negredo, with the deal structured to compensate for the fact they still haven’t completed payment for the striker, as reported by Kieran Gill of the Daily Mail. 

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The first shirt is printed! #WelcomeNicolas https://t.co/TP3291ieph

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 20, 2015"

Manuel Pellegrini, the City manager, told the official club website he was delighted to sign Otamendi, saying: 

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Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I’m delighted to have added a player of his quality. He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim [Mangala] and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.

As a footballer, Nicolás has all of the qualities to be a success in the Premier League – he’s strong, he’s excellent in the tackle and he’s very good technically.

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Otamendi said:

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I am here to give my best, to fight game by game, and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles.

That’s the most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.

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He joins Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando as former Porto players and will play alongside fellow countrymen Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Martin Demichelis.

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Check out the first pictures of @Notamendi30 as a City player! Image gallery: http://t.co/spRCXu3F0i #WelcomeNicolas pic.twitter.com/InPj5dBCug

— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) August 20, 2015"

Otamendi arrives at City on the back of a fine final season in La Liga where he was widely considered to be the league’s best defender, and the former Porto man will now have his eye on becoming a fixture in the side.

That’s despite the exceptional early-season form of Vincent Kompany and Mangala, both of whom have looked flawless in City’s opening two matches. Having struggled to form any kind of partnership together last season, with their aggressive styles seemingly too similar to jell, they appear to have established a far better understanding and appreciation of one another’s game this time out.

With Demichelis, City’s best centre-back last season, still around, and Jason Denayer, the club’s most impressive young defender, also looking to kick on this year, the competition for places at the heart of Pellegrini’s defence all of a sudden looks much stronger than perhaps it has done at any stage under the Chilean. 

Mangala, who struggled to find any kind of consistency during his first season at City, looks to be settling. In terms of raw attributes, very few can question him. He’s unfathomably strong and quick, displays superb athleticism and is looking increasingly comfortable on the ball.

Given he was last summer’s major signing, stifling his progress would be a bad move. However, given he is still just 23 and continues to acclimatise to a league that’s much faster than anything he has faced before, he has time on his side and should not worry if he becomes a player rested and rotated this season. He has a bright future at the Etihad.

Kompany is perhaps the more interesting case. After a disastrous 2014/15, he has played superbly well in City’s opening two matches—3-0 wins against West Bromwich Albion and last season’s champions Chelsea.

He scored in both and has looked far more focused than during the last campaign. Kompany is a player who relies on being in peak physical condition, a position he hasn’t been in for 18 months.

But after a summer without international football, he returned to City early to train hard and prepare himself for a crucial season in his career. He knows the doubters are circling and he has to reassert himself as the league’s best centre-back.

It’s too early to tell if his woes are behind him, but the signs are good. He was too easily pulled out of position last season, with an over-eagerness to impress causing a downward spiral in form. He’s looked a completely different player thus far, and it’s a huge boost to Pellegrini and City’s chances of success.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Like Kompany and Mangala, Otamendi is an aggressive defender, one who plays on the front foot—proactive rather than reactive. Demichelis, therefore, is left as the one experienced City centre-back who plays in a more cautious style.

That should ensure he continues to get games depending on the opposition. Add to that Pellegrini’s tendency to bring him on in midfield to see games out when City find themselves in the lead, and Demichelis’ role in the squad remains as important as ever. His knowledge and experience is vital, particularly for Mangala, which is why he was offered a one-year contract extension towards the end of last season.

Denayer, though, may feel somewhat perturbed by the Otamendi signing. After a hugely successful loan spell at Celtic last season, where he was named as the SPL’s Young Player of the Year and was a permanent fixture in the Hoops’ double-winning side, he is likely to have seen this season as a key one in his career.

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

He has also played for Belgium and impressed, and given he signed a new five-year contract in July, many felt he was set to become City’s fourth-choice centre-back option at the Etihad this year.

The City fans, who are desperate for their club return to the days of integrating youth-team players into their senior squad, will be hoping he isn’t forced out of the picture and left to feel frustrated.

Perhaps another season-long loan move is imminent for the 20-year-old. He benefited so much from last season’s switch to Celtic Park that it would make sense to ensure he continues playing regularly at a high level.

What many saw last year as City’s problem position all of a sudden looks much stronger. A combination of a new arrival and an upturn in form from others means City now look to have healthy competition in a vital area of the pitch for the first time in a long time.

They were the Premier League's top scorers in each of the last two seasons and continue to impress with their free-flowing football going forward. If they can add some extra steeliness to their back line, they will be a formidable side this season. 

After a slow start to the transfer window, City now look in rude health. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and follows the club from a Manchester base. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.