Nicolas Otamendi

[Dax777]

A good club servant. Hope he stays.

I believe he is. There are no movement on his part or the club's to move him. So he is definitely staying.

 

[Dax777]

At 31 ( I think) and seemingly unsettled, it would seem the right time to sell if possible. With the profile of the squad looking at younger players, Ruben Dias would be a cracking option to come in this summer? It’s going to be a big year for stones imo as pep didn’t seem to trust him too much in the second part of last season? I know he had personal issues but so did walker and he still got picked?

He isn't

 

[Rammy Blue]

He isn't

You know this how?

 

[KCblue]

We'll see things accelerate soon if he is off. I can't see the club allowing him to leave after the deadline to bring players in, which I believe is the 8th of August.

 

[Gabriel]

Thought he was unhappy with playing time as opposed to unsettled, a word which to me tends to suggest homesickness or something similar.

Kompany’s departure was clearly a little unexpected, so perhaps Otamendi will be placated with those minutes. However, I suspect Fernandinho may prove an inspired selection at the back- easily the best footballer of the four- and that may in turn reduce the minutes Stones and Otamendi see.

 

[St.Pauli support]

Last season has shown Laporte is a safe starter on LCB and Ota only is cover there. That's Ota's main problem IMO.

Ota started as LCB only in cup matches when Laporte was being rested,
and mainly started as RCB, the position he would have to join with Stones again, if fit.
Fern being a backup.

Ota extended his contract til 2022 in Jan 2018 and only 1 week later Laporte was brought in.
No idea if that was any surprise for Nico.

 

[Dax777]

You know this how?

Because the claim has no basis.

 

[ADegenerate]

Thought he was unhappy with playing time as opposed to unsettled, a word which to me tends to suggest homesickness or something similar.

Kompany’s departure was clearly a little unexpected, so perhaps Otamendi will be placated with those minutes. However, I suspect Fernandinho may prove an inspired selection at the back- easily the best footballer of the four- and that may in turn reduce the minutes Stones and Otamendi see.

This is pretty much spot on. The games/minutes are definitely there for him.

The issue is that he was our clear cut number 1 CB before Laporte signed (only bc of vinnies injuries obviously). This was before Pep came, while Pep transitioned, and during our centurions run. If you’re looking at things from his perspective the drop off in games/minutes seems unjustified and harsh from his perspective.

He knows he isn’t the first choice CB and he’s battling with Stones for the bigger games as second choice. In a true 50/50 the club/pep is backing stones for obvious reasons so he’s caught in a rough spot here. He was getting 3800-4200 minutes a season before Laporte. I think he’ll easily get 3200/3300 with Kompany gone and honestly that’s about perfect. The issue is dropping him in the bigger games and that’s the only reason why this xfer is even remotely being discussed.

He’s going to have to stay and fight it out with Stones until we buy a CB next summer in all likelihood and he’s still ‘young enough’ to get a move to a club like Valencia next season even though this term would be ideal.

And for what it’s worth, Stones struggles to push 3000. Make of that what you will.

Edit: it will work itself out. We’ll do right by Nico in the end. We just gave Mangala an extension and might let him walk on a free. No reason to stress out.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Because the claim has no basis.

The great irony of the transfer forum.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Pep obviously doesn't think he's going anywhere.