LONDON: Manchester City completed the signing of Aymeric Laporte on Tuesday, taking their spending in the 19 months since Pep Guardiola took charge to more than 拢450 million ($635 million).
Premier League leaders City are reported to have paid a club record 拢57 million for Athletic Bilbao defender Laporte, eclipsing the 拢55 million they paid for Kevin De Bruyne and taking their total outlay on transfer fees under their Spanish coach to 拢452.4 million. City are bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi United Group, the company owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
鈥淚 would tell them I understand,鈥� Guardiola said when asked about criticism of City鈥檚 spending. 鈥淪ome clubs spend 拢300, 拢400 million on two players. We spend it on six players. We had a problem last summer with six players out of contract. When you want to compete at the highest level, you need to spend.
鈥淢aybe one day this club will spend 拢100 million or 拢130 million on one player but we decide not to do it. We understand the inflation of the market. It is what it is. We accept criticism but what matters is our signings perform well and fit in at this club.鈥�
City have made the 23-year-old Laporte the second most expensive defender in history behind Virgil Van Dijk, who cost Liverpool 拢75 million from Southampton earlier this month. Guardiola has now spent more than 拢200 million on reinforcing his defense, bringing in Laporte alongside Benjamin Mendy (拢52 million), John Stones (拢47.5 million) and Kyle Walker (拢45 million).
鈥淚 am very happy to be here,鈥� Laporte said in a statement on Manchester City鈥檚 website . 鈥淐ity are a club with a lot of ambition and they are one of the best teams in Europe.
鈥淚 am looking forward to working under Pep Guardiola and trying to help the club to achieve success.鈥�
City boss Guardiola said Laporte was ready to play straight away but may need time to adapt to the Premier League.
鈥淗e鈥檚 fit, he鈥檚 been playing the last period,鈥� Guardiola told reporters. 鈥淥f course he has to adapt because the Premier League is special in many senses.
鈥淗e is intelligent, he will read what is the situation. Even for English players, when they come into the Premier League it鈥檚 always a little bit tough. We will be patient because he doesn鈥檛 come for three months, he comes for five years.鈥�
Man City spending by position under Guardiola:
拢55.8m 鈥� Goalkeepers
拢233.1m 鈥� Defenders
拢114.4m 鈥� Midfielders
拢49.1m 鈥� Forwards