Martin Demichelis Leaves Manchester City: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Martin Demichelis has left Manchester City after reaching the end of his three-year contract at the Etihad Stadium. 

The club's official website confirmed the 35-year-old's exit from the club. His place in the team grew less secure after Nicolas Otamendi's arrival last summer added competition alongside captain Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala.

Former Bayern Munich and Malaga centre-back Demichelis made 106 appearances in a three-year stay at Manchester City, winning the Premier League in 2014 along with two League Cups (2014, 2016).

Demichelis joined City in the summer of 2013, less than two months after agreeing a move to Atletico Madrid, for whom he failed to make a single appearance.

The defender's former Malaga and River Plate manager, Manuel Pellegrini, added him to his City squad, and Demichelis played a prominent role for the club during his first two years in England, earning 70 starts across all competitions.

However, the South American's involvement declined sharply in 2015-16, when he made just 17 appearances as part of the starting XI.

Manchester City fan account Typical City paid tribute to the departing star, particularly for his contributions in the title-winning tile of 2014:

Similarly, fan account MCFC Info remembered the Argentinian in his ponytailed form, which has long been a thing of the past:

"

Martin Demichelis has officially left City. Good luck for the future, Martin! pic.twitter.com/edXgPmeg5G

— MCFC Info (@MCFClnfo) July 1, 2016"

Incoming manager Pep Guardiola may now look to find a replacement for Demichelis in the market, especially considering captain Kompany missed 34 games through injury last term, per Transfermarkt.

Guardiola will hope to have better fortune in his defensive recruitment than previous City managers, as highlighted by Breathe Sport:

"

When you remember Man City sold Jerome Boateng and replaced him with Mangala and Demichelis... pic.twitter.com/wvRwd7lCOq

— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) June 26, 2016"

Demichelis was hit by controversy midway through the 2015-16 campaign after he was fined £22,058 for 29 gambling breaches, as Jack Bezants and Jack Gaughan of MailOnline reported. None of his bets were related to matches he could have had any influence on, however.

Despite the low-profile ending to his Citizens tenure, Demichelis will look to extend his career and enter free agency, although some clubs may be wary of recruiting such a seasoned star.