Football
ESPN staff 9y

Nicolas Otamendi: Manchester City made Premier League dream happen

Nicolas Otamendi has told ESPN FC Radio that he moved to Manchester City to realise his "boyhood dream" of playing in the Premier League.

Otamendi, 27, was linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid but chose to move to City from Valencia for a fee that sources told ESPN FC was £31.5 million.

The Argentina international said he had been convinced to make the move by City boss Manuel Pellegrini and his countryman Sergio Aguero.

And he explained: "Since the time I spoke with Aguero during the Copa America, the interest from City was always an attractive proposition.

"The fact that there are other Argentinians there too was a positive element when the time to make a decisive decision came about.

"I talked in depth to Pellegrini, and he convinced me. They were looking for a central defender with my profile, and I found their project to be attractive."

Otamendi said it had been tough to leave Valencia, but that "it was always a boyhood dream of mine to play in the Premier League."

He said: "A chance like this doesn't come around every day, so I had to grab it.

"Football is different in every country. I hope to be able to express myself on the field of play and push myself to the limit in each game.

"To be one of the most expensive centre backs makes one feel proud. On the pitch, there is nowhere to hide. When the time comes to play it's up to me to do my best."

Recalling an "amazing" campaign with Valencia last season, he said: "I am content in the knowledge that I gave my all and did what I love most -- playing football."

Otamendi signed a five-year deal with City to become their fifth summer signing after record buy Raheem Sterling, midfielder Fabian Delph and young forwards Enes Unal and Patrick Roberts.

The transfer was facilitated because Valencia still owed City money after signing Alvaro Negredo for €30m.

Otamendi told the club website: "To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream."

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