Otamendi set to leave Man City at end of season as he seeks regular football

NICOLAS OTAMENDI is readying himself to leave Manchester City this summer as he searches for a regular starting role.

The 31-year-old has made 31 appearances for City this season but has found himself out of the starting XI for their last four Premier League fixtures.

The range of options open to manager Pep Guardiola in the centre of defence has left Otamendi seemingly overlooked in recent weeks.

He was an unused sub in the Champions League quarter-final second leg, when City were knocked out by Tottenham on away goals despite a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Guardiola has preferred to partner Frenchman Aymeric Laporte with either club captain Vincent Kompany or England’s John Stones since Otamendi’s last league start.

That came in the 2-0 victory away at Fulham on March 30, although Otamendi then started alongside Laporte in the FA Cup semi-final win over Brighton a week later.

The Argentinian was a central figure in City’s record-breaking run last season, when they set a Premier League record of 100 points to lift the trophy with five games to spare.

He made 46 appearances in 2017-18 and even chipped in with five goals, including the winner against domestic rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford.

His performances saw him named in the PFA Team of the Year, featuring alongside fellow City defender Kyle Walker following their standout season.

Otamendi joined City from Valencia in 2015 and a return to Spain has been mooted as a possible route out of the Etihad for the want-away defender.

Source: Read Full Article