Chelsea secure Pedro as Manchester City sign Otamendi. PHOTO: AFP
Pedro chose the Blues over rival suitors Manchester United and Manchester City, with the 28-year-old’s arrival at Stamford Bridge ending a summer-long transfer saga.
“I am very happy to be here. I am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea and I am here to keep winning titles,” said Pedro. “Thanks to the club and the supporters for giving me the opportunity to put the blue shirt on.”
He left Barcelona having fallen down the pecking order at the Camp Nou under Luis Enrique, who has preferred the all-star front three of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez and has used the Canary-Islands born player more sparingly.
Meanwhile, centre-back Otamendi has signed for Manchester City after a deal was agreed with his current side Valencia.
The 27-year-old will bolster central defensive ranks at City that include two familiar faces in former Porto team-mate Eliaquim Mangala and international colleague Martin Demichelis, as well as captain Vincent Kompany.
“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,” said Otamendi. “That’s most important. To be here inside a club that looks so wonderful from the outside is a dream.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 21st, 2015.
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