Manchester City Opinion: Signing Ruben Duarte will secure the right-back role
Manchester City are a side that most clubs will have nightmares about if they are set to face them in the upcoming days or weeks. Such is the pedigree of the players that Pep Guardiola has successfully lured to the Etihad Stadium.
They have acquired many top players over the seasons and have been a consistent presence in the transfer market. They certainly haven’t bought just for the sake of it and some of the signings they have made can be labelled as inspired.
Like the acquisitions of young players like Leroy Sané and Bernardo Silva in recent years and the early signings of the old guard consisting of Fernandinho, Sergio Aguero and David Silva, they have always done some extremely shrewd and smart business.
While a lot of money has been pumped into this football club from its ambitious owners, they have certainly made a place for themselves on the European stage as well.
With a good run in the Champions League expected this season, they will also be looking to beat Liverpool to a successive Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola’s arrival at the Etihad has completely changed the fortunes and moreover, the lives of all City fans for the better as he has built a team that needs to be feared.
However, Manchester City have their Achilles heel too and one of their main concerns going into next season will be the left-back position. The move for Benjamin Mendy was seen as progress but his injury has kept him out for long spells.
During this time, Pep Guardiola has turned to right-back Danilo, centre-half Aymeric Laporte and midfielders Fabian Delph and Oleksandr Zinchenko to fulfil the tasks of the left-back role and the need for a cover for Mendy is now more evident than ever.
If there is one player in world football trailer-made for City’s style of play, then that man is Alaves left-back Ruben Duarte. The 23-year-old is highly rated and has had a breakthrough season for La Liga’s 5th-placed team, Alaves.
A product of the Espanyol youth academy, the Spaniard is a pacy full-back with a wide array of attacking tools in his arsenal. His movement and overlapping runs are certain to suit Pep’s restless style of play while his work rate will suit his teammates at the Etihad as well.
Read more Manchester City news, click here: Manchester City latest news
He has made 25 league appearances for Alaves this season and is one of their most important players.
Possibly one of the first names on Abelardo’s team sheet, his skills would be best utilised in the Premier League and what better team to start your English career with than then the reigning champions themselves.