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Manchester City announce Demichelis signing

ESPN staff
September 1, 2013
Martin Demichelis played under Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga © AP
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Manchester City have completed the signing of Martin Demichelis after Atletico Madrid brought in a replacement for the defender.

City had an agreement in principle with Atletico that Demichelis would be allowed to leave once manager Diego Simeone had secured reinforcements; Atletico have since finalised a deal to bring in Toby Alderweireld from Ajax for £7 million.

Demichelis is set to cost City about £3.5m, meaning Atletico have made a quick profit on a player they signed on a free transfer from Malaga in July.

He will be reunited with manager Manuel Pellegrini, who was also at Malaga last season, at the Etihad Stadium and ends City's long search to find cover for Vincent Kompany.

Kolo Toure, who had been the captain's deputy, left for Liverpool when his City contract expired and with both Kompany and Micah Richards injured, midfielder Javi Garcia played in the heart of the defence in the 3-2 defeat to Cardiff.

Demichelis will provide stability at the back for City after Joleon Lescott, a left-footed centre-back who normally plays to Kompany's left, had an awkward outing as the right-sided central defender in Saturday's 2-0 win over Hull.

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