Eliaquim Mangala Signs Manchester City Contract Extension

Mangala joined Manchester City as our record signing but has struggled to hold a place in the team down the last couple of seasons and has seen his last 12 months blighted following serious injury.

Manchester City signed Mangala for a club record of an initial payment of £31 million on 11 August 2014 from the Portuguese club FC Porto. At the time it was a serious amount of money to spend on a young central defender and represented something akin to speculation in the transfer market. It was hoped Mangala would continue to develop into being one of the best centre backs in European football. He certainly seemed to have all the key attributes – he was tall and physically imposing, with good ball control and a turn of pace.

The issues started quite soon after joining Manchester City where despite his physical prowess he seemed to be caught watching the ball on a number of occasions, making us susceptible to attacks. In my view he provided a useful defensive option to our team even if he seemed to freeze in some big moments. I tended to think that if he had any short comings it tended to be on reading the game, as though his speed of thought did not quite match his speed of foot.

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That is not to say he did not play well for us because he did. I recall a number of solid performances at the back, not least of which was the excellent defensive display which shut out Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League quarter finals back in 2015/16. That day he pocketed Zlatan Ibrahimovich – and this was no mean feat given this was not the elderly Zlatan at Manchester United.

The arrival of Pep seemed to put paid to Mangala at Manchester City as he seemed to quickly decide he was not the correct type of player to flourish within his system. Despite this he made 17 appearances for City in the double winning season last year – just short of the number made by Vincent Kompany. With the arrival of Aymeric Laporte, Mangala faced a reduction in game time and so agreed to go on loan to Everton.

Unfortunately he sustained a serious cruciate knee ligament injury and Mangala returned to his parent club for his lengthy recuperation. He returned to training just before christmas and given his contract was due to expire in June 2019, there was hope he would secure a loan or permanent move in the January transfer window. However after a solitary appearance for the youth team he broke down and has needed some further time in the treatment room. As the window closed it seemed as though his opportunity to secure a move had evaporated.

News has now emerged that yesterday Mangala has signed a 1 year contract extension meaning he will now be out of contract on 30 June 2020. In signing this new contract Mangala may be turning down a lucrative signing on fee had he moved for free. Whilst there is no indication his new contract is recognition he has forced his way into the plans of Guardiola, it will mean that should he move on in the next transfer window as expected then City will be able to command a fee. Accordingly in an age where footballers are easily portrayed as mercenaries it would appear as though Mangala has done the opposite and signed an extension out of loyalty and to protect the investment by City.

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Whatever happens we wish Mangala all the best in his career. If it had not been for injury I am sure he would have racked up a significant number of appearances this season given the injuries we have had to our key defensive players.

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