Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

Bacary Sagna hails Man City quality

Bacary Sagna believes he has joined perhaps the best team in Europe in Manchester City and said his former Arsenal teammates Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy helped persuade him to sign for the Premier League champions.

The right-back brought a seven-season stay at the Emirates Stadium to an end by agreeing to sign for City on a free transfer.

And Sagna, who has penned a three-year deal at the Etihad Stadium, said he is impressed by the quality of the players City have and hopes to help the Premier League champions secure more silverware.

He told City's official website: "I needed a change. I spent seven years at Arsenal and had a great time but I wanted to work hard again and I chose the best team in England and even in Europe.

"When you come to a great club like that it is not hard [to motivate yourself] at all. I was watching them celebrate last season, two seasons ago, I wanted to celebrate at the same time and to win trophies. The best way to do it is work hard and get the maximum."

Sagna is the fifth player to swap Arsenal for City in the last five years and he revealed left-back Clichy and midfielder Nasri urged him to follow their lead.

He added: "[I spoke to them] many times because they knew I was free, they knew I wanted a move, they said to me you should come because we have a great team and a great mentality."

Sagna will provide Pablo Zabaleta with competition for the right-back spot but said the Argentine has helped welcome him to his new club.

He said: "He has been great. I think he was one of the ones who had the most chat with me and I am not here to fight against him, just to bring what I can to the team. Of course, one of us is going to play a bit more than the other but to me it is not a problem. I am just here to give the maximum."

His arrival prompted the question if City now have the two finest right-backs in the Premier League and Sagna stated he is an admirer of Zabaleta, adding: "He is one of the best. I am not here to talk about myself but he is one of the best. He can defend well and he is very decisive going forward."

Sagna was part of the France squad that reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup and only started full training on Monday.

He explained: "I just started running today [Wednesday] with the team. But previously I started myself on the treadmill and I will try to bring myself up to be ready as soon as possible."

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