Manchester City to Sign Asier Riesgo?

One of the big changes about being a Manchester City fan in the last 15 years is we tend to be linked to transfers of players who are household names.

Barely a day goes by without Manchester City being linked to buying Messi, Isco or any other well known player. So it is a refreshing change to report a transfer story about a player I am pleased to say I have never heard of.

The Spanish press have reported for a few days that City have agreed terms with Asier Riesgo, a 35 year old Spanish goalkeeper. This is a surprise to every City fan as no one realised we had a gap in our squad for a journeyman goalkeeper.

Riesgo has won a single trophy in his career – back in 2002 he was in the Spanish side who clinched the Under 19 European trophy. He has spent his entire career in the Spanish leagues, flitting between the lower echelons of La Liga.

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In his whole career so far he has made moves between clubs for a total value of £315,000.

For a 35 year old player he has made relatively few career appearances – just 275 to date, indicating he has spent a number of seasons as a back up choice. Last year at Eibar he amassed some 14 appearances for the club, conceding 20 goals in the process, although he did keep 4 clean sheets as well.

The press are reporting Riesgo is being brought in as 3rd choice keeper and is being lured into a deal with City by the prospect of joining the goalkeeping coaching staff.

Suddenly the deal begins to make more sense. He is the new Richard Wright.

The move for a new 3rd keeper seems to indicate that Aro Muric will be on the move. He has been linked heavily with a loan move to Nottingham Forest. That will leave City with Claudio Bravo as 2nd choice keeper for the season ahead, with the Under 21s Daniel Grimshaw as back up.

The real surprise to me is that City are investing in another keeper at all. I believe Grimshaw would be good enough to act as a cover for the season ahead and would assist with the home grown and club trained player rules in the squad.

Perhaps this just means Grimshaw may also be heading on loan too.

Anyway, the stories in the press appear convincing enough to suggest we will be welcoming Riesgo in the coming days.