By Daily sports on September 28, 2020

Manchester City are set to sign Portugal defender Ruben Dias from Benfica for £65m his week.

City's Argentina centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, 32, will go the other way for about £13.7m in a separate transfer.

Manager Pep Guardiola has wanted a right-sided central defender since Vincent Kompany retired last summer.

Dias, 23, was captain for Benfica’s win over Moreirense on Saturday and hugged team-mates and sporting director Rui Costa at the final whistle.

After the match, Dias – who had scored his 12th goal for the club in 133 appearances – told Benfica TV: “It was a very important game for me and being able to mark it with a goal was very special.

“I believe that everyone already has an idea why I hugged Rui Costa.”

While Dias’ transfer is yet to be completed, only a few minor details remain to be agreed.

The failure to secure a replacement for former skipper Kompany was seen as a major reason for City not putting up more of a challenge to Liverpool in last season’s Premier League title race.

Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, 29, was initially City’s top target this summer, but the Italian club wanted £80m for the Senegal defender, which City were not prepared to pay. (BBC)

•PHOTO: Ruben Dias

Source Daily sports

Posted September 28, 2020

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