Man City seal £64m transfer of Ruben Dias from Benfica as Pep looks to solve defensive woes after Leicester thrashing
RUBEN DIAS is expected to complete a £64million move to Manchester City today.
Benfica have confirmed the Portuguese international defender, 23, will join the Etihad outfit in a deal worth an initial £62million.
In a statement, the Portuguese club also confirmed Nicolas Otamendi is moving in the opposite direction for a separate fee of around £13.7 million.
The arrival of Dias will end Pep Guardiola’s long search for a right-sided centre half and his arrival comes as a huge boost in the wake of Sunday’s 5-2 hammering at home to Leicester.
He has also looked at Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, Jules Kounde of Seville and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Giminez.
However they have settled on Dias – a player they have monitored for well over a year – and his arrival cannot come soon enough.
City shipped five goals at home for the first time in 17 years as they were thumped by Leicester at the Etihad on Sunday.
Earlier in the summer, Pep signed Nathan Ake for £40 million from Bournemouth – while he also has John Stones and Aymeric Laporte, who were absent on Sunday.
It could open the door for Eric Garcia to move back to Barcelona this summer after turning down a new contract at City.
Dias was named skipper by Benfica and scored the opening goal in their 2-0 win over Moreirense on Saturday night.
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After the game, Dias said: “I am very happy.
“It was a very important game for me and to be able to consecrate the game with a goal, it was very special for me.
“It is a special moment and I think everyone already knows why.”
Coach Jorge Jesus stopped short of saying his key defender was definitely leaving but added: “I’m almost sure it was the last game.
“In football, sometimes everything changes at the last second, but I think that will not happen. We are sorry to see you go.
“But I also have some blame for him leaving. It has to do with the elimination of the Champions League.
“There are things that have to be balanced and Rúben has a high market.
“If I have a choice, I want Ruben. But if I have to have Otamendi, I’m satisfied.
“In Portugal, he has justified all his value and Pep must not be stupid. If you want Ruben and let Otamendi come here, you should see what we all see.”