BARC-ING MAD Barcelona will make shock bid for Man City outcast Nicolas Otamendi in latest bizarre transfer move - 7M sport

BARC-ING MAD Barcelona will make shock bid for Man City outcast Nicolas Otamendi in latest bizarre transfer move

Otamendi looks set to slip further down the pecking order in Manchester with Guardiola looking to sign Ajax's De Ligt


Posted Friday, January 25, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

MANCHESTER CITY defender Nicolas Otamendi is wanted by Barcelona in a shock swoop this month.

The Argentine, 30, has featured just ten times in the Premier League this season and is now poised to quit the Premier League champions.

BARC-ING MAD Barcelona will make shock bid for Man City outcast Nicolas Otamendi in latest bizarre transfer move
Nicolas Otamendi is a shock transfer target for Barcelona this month

Pep Guardiola is keen to bolster his defensive ranks too, eyeing up a £50million move for Ajax wonderkid Matthijs de Ligt.

With City missing out on another Ajax star in Frenkie De Jong to Barca, they may now turn their attention to the sought-after centre-half.

And with the La Liga giants spending the £65m on the midfielder, they look to be out of the race for expensive De Ligt.

That spells danger for Otamendi who looks set to slip further down the pecking order in Manchester.

BARC-ING MAD Barcelona will make shock bid for Man City outcast Nicolas Otamendi in latest bizarre transfer move
Nicolas Otamendi helped Man City clinch the Premier League title last season

John Stones and Aymeric Laporte have developed a strong defensive partnership this season, with Vincent Kompany still a key figure when fit.

Earlier this week, Guardiola revealed the defender - who joined the club in 2015 for a fee of £28m - was growing frustrated at the club.

The City boss revealed: “He's not happy. When he plays he's happy, when he doesn't play he's not happy, but not just Otamendi, everybody. All of them.

"We would like to [keep him], but it depends on the players and the agents.”

BARC-ING MAD Barcelona will make shock bid for Man City outcast Nicolas Otamendi in latest bizarre transfer move
Man City are chasing Matthijs de Ligt in a £50million transfer

However, Guardiola added he still has faith in Otamendi, saying: "He's a guy who plays with problems, with kicks, with muscular issues and always he's there.

"It's incredible. What I said last season remains the same for me, it doesn't matter if he plays more regularly than last season.

"I'm delighted with him but I can understand him [wanting to play more]."

With Barcelona coming knocking in a desperate bid to sort out their own defensive crisis, Otamendi could find himself at a new home in a matter of days.

It's thought City would demand around £35m for the Argentine star.



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.