Manchester City sign Nolito

Manchester City have announced the signing of Nolito from Celta Vigo on a four-year contract. City were able to secure the deal for the 29-year-old Spainish international forward after triggering his £13.8m release clause with the La Liga club.

Nolito, whose real name is Manuel Agudo Duran, has finalised his reunion with his old Barcelona B and first team manager Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium following Spain’s exit from Euro 2016. Guardiola gave Nolito a first-team debut before moving on to Benfica. He returned to his home country to join Celta in 2013 and won the first of his 13 international caps the following year.

Twelve goals in La Liga last season helped secure Nolito a spot in France, where he featured in all four of Spain’s Euro 2016 games and scored in the 3-0 win over Turkey. Nolito, who scored 39 goals in 103 appearances for Celta in total, will wear the No 9 shirt for City this season and he is looking forward to working with Guardiola again.

“I think Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world,” he toldCity’s official website. “He knows a lot about the game and he’s going to help me progress as a player and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me. It was a really satisfying feeling when I heard of City and Pep’s interest in me. I’m very fortunate that it was he who handed me my debut at Barcelona. I know him a little. I was with him for a short while when he got me to train with the first team or included me in the playing squad.”

Nolito celebrates his goal against Turkey.
Nolito celebrates his goal against Turkey.

“I want to keep progressing, I’m at the start of a new chapter in my career here at City and I’m really pleased to be here and I want to try and continue to improve as a player. I’ll try to bring as much as I possibly can [to City]. I’ll do everything that the manager asks of me, try my absolute best and do everything I can to repeat the form I’ve shown throughout my career at various clubs.”

“It’s just about trying to play my usual game and let’s hope that I can help City to win games.”

Nolito was close to a move to Barcelona in January but the Catalan club decided against signing him as a backup striker due to his age and price tag.

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