We’ve bought the best defender from Spain, boast Manchester City as they unveil Argentina star Otamendi in £32m deal from Valencia

Manuel Pellegrini announced he had bought the ‘best defender in La Liga’ on Thursday after Manchester City completed the £32million signing of Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.

The Argentina international passed his medical in Manchester and agreed terms on a five-year contract with the Barclays Premier League club.

Otamendi had been linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid but was unveiled as City’s fifth signing following the arrivals of Raheem Sterling, Fabian Delph, Enes Unal and Patrick Roberts.

Nicolas Otamendi joined Manchester City after being linked with Manchester United and Real Madrid

It is thought Valencia may use the sale of the 27-year-old to write off part of the fee they still owe City for striker Alvaro Negredo.

Otamendi was named in La Liga’s Team of the Year last season and Pellegrini has backed the centre back to immediately fit in at the club.

Speaking to City’s official website, Pellegrini said: ‘Nicolas Otamendi was arguably the best defender in La Liga last season and so naturally I’m delighted to have added a player of his quality.

‘He is an established international for one of the best nations in world football and I have no doubt that he has the right mentality to fit into a squad where he will find many familiar faces, including Eliaquim [Mangala] and Fernando who he played alongside in Portugal.

‘As a footballer, Nicolas has all of the qualities to be a success in the Premier League – he’s strong, he’s excellent in the tackle and he’s very good technically. I am sure he will become another Argentine player our fans will enjoy watching.’

Otamendi joined Valencia from Porto and made 35 appearances in La Liga, scoring six goals.

Otamendi said: ‘I am here to give my best, to fight game by game and push City to the highest peaks for as long as possible, and I wish we will be able to win several cups and titles. That’s the most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.’

Otamendi has 25 caps for Argentina and was a member of the side that reached the 2015 Copa America final in July with City team-mates Martin Demichelis, Sergio Aguero and Pablo Zabaleta.

He also won the Primeira Liga in Portugal in three out of four seasons with Porto as well as the Europa League.