Eliaquim Mangala to Valencia: Latest Loan Details, Comments and Reaction

Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has joined Valencia on a season-long loan.   

City announced the move on Wednesday ahead of the close of the summer transfer window.

Mangala arrived at the Etihad Stadium from FC Porto in 2014 with a great deal of promise—the Sky Blues reportedly paid £32 million for the defender.

Indeed, his imposing frame, aerial ability and pace should have made him well-suited to Premier League football—he has all the physical hallmarks of an excellent centre-back.

His career at City started well with a commanding performance against Chelsea, per Squawka Football:

The 25-year-old struggled to convince during his time at Eastlands, though, often proving unreliable and erratic at the back.

His positioning, concentration and decision-making have all often left something to be desired, resulting in numerous costly errors in defence. For Mangala to reach his potential, he needs to improve his mental attributes and tactical awareness—something he has been unable to do at City. 

JAVIER SORIANO/Getty Images

At Valencia, Mangala will be tasked with replacing Shkodran Mustafi following his move to Arsenal.

Barring an unexpected turnaround, Mangala's career with City is likely over. The arrival of John Stones from Everton pushed him further down the pecking order, and manager Pep Guardiola has yet to give any indication he has plans for the Frenchman.

However, a solid spell with Los Che should boost his transfer value ahead of a permanent move at some point in the future, which would be a good thing for all parties involved.

The Citizens would love to recuperate some of their funds, and Mangala is in the perfect place to stand out and earn his next major contract.