Mehdi Benatia tops Man City's wish list and £12m Roma defender could be first of many
Manchester City are considering Mehdi Benatia at Roma as their next centre-back purchase.
The Morocco star is widely regarded as the best central defender in Italy and has been watched closely by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years.
Roma paid £12m to Udinese for him only last summer and he has continued to show why he is so well thought of with solid defensive displays and an attacking threat at set-pieces.
City have been holding talks with Porto over Eliaquim Mangala who is generally regarded to be over-priced while there is a similar situation with Aymeric Laporte at Athletic Bilbao who Barcelona have also enquired about.
French-born Benatia is a proven quality player who would form a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany while allowing the likes of Matija Nastasic to develop.
Benatia had a trial at Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's first spell at the club and stayed in a house with Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele. However, despite being offered a deal, he wasn't keen on such a big move at that stage of his career and stayed with Marseille.
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Manchester City are considering Mehdi Benatia at Roma as their next centre-back purchase.
The Morocco star is widely regarded as the best central defender in Italy and has been watched closely by Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years.
Roma paid £12m to Udinese for him only last summer and he has continued to show why he is so well thought of with solid defensive displays and an attacking threat at set-pieces.
City have been holding talks with Porto over Eliaquim Mangala who is generally regarded to be over-priced while there is a similar situation with Aymeric Laporte at Athletic Bilbao who Barcelona have also enquired about.
French-born Benatia is a proven quality player who would form a formidable partnership with Vincent Kompany while allowing the likes of Matija Nastasic to develop.
Benatia had a trial at Chelsea during Jose Mourinho's first spell at the club and stayed in a house with Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele. However, despite being offered a deal, he wasn't keen on such a big move at that stage of his career and stayed with Marseille.
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