Why Pablo Zabaleta Remains a Pivotal Player for Manchester City

There are just three Manchester City players signed before Sheikh Mansour’s takeover of the club in 2008 who remain part of the squad. All three have proved to be bargains.

Joe Hart, bought from Shrewsbury Town for just £900,000 in 2006, is far and away England’s best goalkeeper and one of the finest in Europe. After a serious dip in form in 2013, he has emerged as one of City’s most consistent players. Although there remain some holes in his game, he is a vital member of the squad whose character and connection to the club make him a fans’ favourite.

Vincent Kompany joined the club from Hamburg for £6 million in August 2008 and initially played in midfield under the tutelage of Mark Hughes—but Roberto Mancini soon shifted him to centre-half. He quickly established a reputation as being the best central defender in the Premier League and became captain of the club, a role he has carried out with distinction.

Injury problems have affected his status in recent years, and there are now serious question marks about his reliability. His leadership, relationship with the club’s directors and brilliance when fit likely mean he won’t leave this summer despite playing just 19 games so far this season.

A record of 14 calf issues in the last four seasons tells its own painful story, but he’s widely seen as a symbol of the new Manchester City, and the club is likely to have plans for him beyond his playing career.

He is intelligent and articulate—a student of the game and of business and economics. A coaching role seems obvious, but there could even be a place at board level for a man of his standing. What a signing he has been.

The third is Pablo Zabaleta, signed in 2008 from Espanyol for £6 million, whose relationship with the fans could hardly be stronger. He struggled initially with the pace and intensity of the Premier League. In fairness, Hughes used him as a utility player, asking him to operate in positions across the midfield and back four. He never really owned one role and, as such, would look somewhat lost when moved around, with his temperament causing disciplinary issues.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

Again, Mancini solved the problem by identifying him as a player with the qualities needed to become a top-class right-back, which is where he began to play regularly.

His development during the Italian’s time at the club was remarkable. Having usurped Micah Richards toward the end of the 2011-12 title-winning season, he went from strength to strength, becoming one of Europe’s best full-backs. Solid defensively and superb going forward, his game improved beyond recognition.

His performance level barely dipped; consistency was his forte. That was until this season, during which a series of fitness issues have affected him badly. Three knee ligament injuries in fairly quick succession decimated the first half of his campaign, and it's understandably caused him problems. He’s back fit but appears to have lost sharpness as well as his place in the side, with Bacary Sagna, 33, firmly in possession of the shirt.

It’s been sad to see. For so long, Zabaleta appeared indestructible, often seen with his head bandaged, blood everywhere, but still flying into tackles. It’s that spirit and desire to play, no matter what pain he’s in, that has seen him become arguably the most-loved player at City since Shaun Goater.

Just eight league starts so far this season goes some way to explaining how much he’s struggled. Over the three previous seasons, he started an average of 31 league matches. It’s been a spectacular decrease.

And when he has played, he hasn’t reached his former level. He's being beaten more easily, lacks a yard of pace (he was never the quickest) and isn't getting forward with the same effect.

There have been question marks placed on his future. In January, he told Stuart Brennan of the Manchester Evening News that he would assess his future this summer. He will have a year left on his contract and, very likely, some offers on the table to go elsewhere, perhaps to a less demanding environment.

He said:

"

At the end of this season, I will have one more year left on my contract. Normally the end of this season will be the time to decide what we will do.

As a player I think I still have two or three years left to play at the top level, but in football you never know – things change quickly.

I am enjoying myself at this great club, and at the end of this season we will have a conversation with the club.

It's January, and everything comes from the media about players coming in or going out but I am 100 per cent focused on City at the moment.

"

Much will depend on what Pep Guardiola, the incoming City manager, feels. He is likely to want younger, fitter full-backs. But Zabaleta’s standing with the fans, and his understanding of the club and the direction it has travelled, means he is a valuable commodity.

He’s been central to everything the club has achieved since 2008 and remains a player fans are connected to. Anyone who saw his celebrations at the end of the League Cup semi-final against Everton in January, when he sank to his knees and cried euphorically, knows what playing for City means to him.

There have been signs in some of his games this season of a player with plenty still to offer. With some rest and a full pre-season, as well as some luck with injuries, there's no reason he cannot remain a part of the next phase of the club's development.

The Guardiola era is set to be the most exciting in City's history. A player such as Zabaleta, who joined before the club became cash-rich, deserves to be a part of it.

Will the Spanish manager see the value in an experienced top-level player who has become part of the fabric of the club? Time will give us the answer.

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report's lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2015/16 season. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter @RobPollard.