City sign Zabaleta

August 31, 2008

NEWS SINGING: Zabaleta joins from Espanyol

CITY have completed the signing of Argentinian defender Pablo Zabaleta from Espanyol for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract after passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.

The Olympic gold medal winner is Mark Hughes' second big signing within days following the return of Shaun Wright-Phillips.

"We feel the addition of Pablo is another great signing for Manchester City," said Hughes.

"He's young and a winner, with an Olympic gold medal to prove that, but more so he will provide us with great balance in the side.

"I'm very happy to bring him here and hopefully we can get a good result at Sunderland to round off what has been a very satisfactory week indeed for us."

Zabaleta said: "I am very happy to come here and play in the Premier League. Playing in England has been a lifelong dream which has finally come true by moving to City."

Hughes was instrumental in persuading Zabaleta to join the Blues and the Argentinian added: "I'd met him previously and was really impressed with him, but having talked to him about Manchester City I had to come here and be part of his plans.

"I'm very confident of helping the first team to achieve their goals for the season and after walking around the Stadium I can't wait to play in front of the City fans there. It is very impressive."

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Joe Strummer's Cat, West Midlands (And.........!) (31/08/2008 at 12:35)

Excellent news. There will be one or two sweating over their futures now they can see Mark Hughes bringing some top notch players in. Another coup from bluesy. C'mon City stick it up the mackems.

bludarnsarf (31/08/2008 at 12:38)

Another good signing by MH. Lets have Taiwo now to strenghten at left back and pip Spurs for Milito (who has been left out of the team for todays game). That should give Hughesy time to evaluate before the next window and clear out one or two strikers who he may then not want.

Come on City today. Lets go into the international break on an even bigger high!!

Dr Thaksin's bank manager (31/08/2008 at 12:39)

"Cash crisis at Manchester City". "Club in financial meltdown". "Thaksin's problems will have a sever effect on city's transfer abilities". Err? Doesn't seem to be that much of a cash crisis does there???
Has anyone spent more than us? I predict Zableta will be a city hero. Don't you just love it when we are signing all these next best things from Argentina and Brazil. If there is any club more ambitious than City in the PL at the moment please tell me. Until then all the media including the M.E.N. get off City's back. Get off Thaksin's back. Get off Gary Cook's back and take your guttersniping to some other club like Everton who DO HAVE financial problems.

naz, Manchester (31/08/2008 at 12:42)

World Class players signing on at City.

SWP and Zabeleta for the price of a James Milner.

Fantastic news for all City fans. Secures the future on the pitch

BlueIsTheColour, West Didsbury (31/08/2008 at 12:43)

Great news& hopefully not the last arrival. It could well be a busy few hours!!

Lets hope Charlie doesn't go to Spuds, but not holding my breath on that one.

We all thought that SGE had a fantastic 'black book' this time last year, but MH has certainly upped the 'quality' in no time.

A good day on the transfer front would be topped off if MH can work a miracle & offlaod Danny Mills!!!

zin zimmer, manchester (31/08/2008 at 12:44)

Love it.... the beast of buenas aires .... just heard a whisper from a good source that were also signing a brazilian defender named Bertie, don;t know anything about him but shoukd be here tomorrow in a one year deal.. believe hes a left back.... leave ball at the stadium of light..... things getting very tasty indeed. 1-3 city today, shaun takes the piss.

Seven Stars, Smooth Bitter Blue, Manchester (31/08/2008 at 12:49)

The clip on Zabaleta is just class where i think Robinho is trying step overs in front of Zaba who in turn just gets stuck in and boots the ball away no nonsense.I think him and Shauny are going to have a ball this season down the right side for us.By the way just came back last night from visiting my sister in Essex and the local rag was full of RAGS in a photo of an article about Tony Cottee coaching some youngsters at a school in West Ham.Must have no football clubs in London.

Bluemonster, Mossley (31/08/2008 at 12:56)

Great signing , just a left back now but i think TBH will probably play in there until the next window, possibly a striker on loan as well, keep up the great work bluesy but i also think the fans need to show a little faith and patience or the next 4 or 5 weeks until they all settle in, we need to make COMS noisier.

Chip Buttie (31/08/2008 at 12:59)

Fantastic acquisition!

Can't wait to see the new right side of citeh with Shauny boy in action.

Come on citeh - lets give Sunderland a kicking like that psycho scumbag manager of theirs gave to Alfie

"I'd luv it if we beat them"

CTID

Reidus, Cambridge (31/08/2008 at 13:10)

I dont know much bout Zabaleta but I 100% trust MH.

kevin cairns, morecambe (31/08/2008 at 13:15)

I have heard that Bertie a left back will sign a one year contact with city reported on sky tv plays in Italy.

Alf Tupper, The Track, Manchester, where else? (31/08/2008 at 13:15)

so it's goodbye Breadvan then?

Maurizio Ashtonio (31/08/2008 at 13:16)

City have signed Glauber Berti, a Brazilian footballer known as Glauber, according to Sky sports news. He has Italian citizenship. He's a 6ft 3 inch left sided centre back. We are recruiting a lot of defenders!

Nick,The No Nonsense,Straight Talkin,Pundit,Caterham ,Surrrey,(Blackley,Born And Bred), caterham (31/08/2008 at 13:17)

Mark Lawrenson,Paul Merson,Jeff Stelling,Ian Ladyman,every Mirror reporter,The Guardian Newspaper,Alan Green and the comfey slipper brigade on the BBC,The Gutter Press in general,Listen up to what I have got to say,YOU WILL NOT BEAT US,YOU WILL FAIL,when City fans are on the ropes we find 20 punches and were back in the middle of the ring!!Suck on this transfer the mentioned few...and begin to realise a new dawn is breaking.Thank you Frank!!

ulf blomberg, varberg, sweden. (31/08/2008 at 13:20)

this is taking shape. we now have the youngest squad in the premier league (well, dont count the arse). with richards, corluka, zabaleta, hart, schmeichel, johnson, ireland, sturridge, kompany, evans, garrido and jo. not any older than 23 (zabaleta). great future if we dont need to sell...whip sunderland!

Tosh - Reddish, Reddish (31/08/2008 at 13:31)

Graham Roberts is saying on Sky Sports that Corluka is definately signing for Spurs tomorrow. I really hope this isn't true as although Zabaleta has arrived I think Corluka should be kept on as he is a very talented footballer and can play in central defence and midfield.

Tosh - Reddish, Reddish (31/08/2008 at 13:34)

Sorry Zin Zimmer I think that score will be the other way around. Don't get me wrong, I think that City will go from strength to strength now with the new signings but I just think this type of away game has come a little too soon. Look at our other two away performances so far and Sunderland are a lot stronger than last year. However, should City pull something out of the bag I will be only too happy to hold my hands up.

Tommy C , we remember, adelaide ,australia (31/08/2008 at 13:43)

Sweet, the fans will love this blokes no nonsence approach. Very quick and a tuff tackler, good crosser of the ball. The other Brazillian is Glauber Berti, 25 yo 6' 3" central defender or full back, holds an Italian passport so no worries with work permit. What a week, when MH said you could do deals right up to the end of the window I don`t think any of us expected this much activity in the last week, who knows he may not be finished yet, got till midnight monday night.

Changing threads, good to hear we will play 2nd leg at home in UEFA cup, with all the new signings available we should be able to see off the Cypriats. Keep em' comin' Hughsey. CTID

BlueBlood (31/08/2008 at 13:44)

Zin Zimmer

how did you know bout Glauber...i never even heard bout him till you mention ed the rumour, and one hour later he has signed!...you can be the new Fitzroy, only better!

BlueBlood (31/08/2008 at 13:58)

WHAT A WEEK!

Repaeat after me...

WHAT A WEEK!

Bluereed my voice only (31/08/2008 at 13:59)

Zin Zimmer,

Who's next then?

tony 1finga, wythenshawe (31/08/2008 at 14:35)

very happy with this signing and all the others hughes has made and now i feel confident with our squad, just need to stop spending now so as to not run up so much debt.

tony 1finga, wythenshawe (31/08/2008 at 14:39)

also, i heard everton are after benjani, not sure whever we should sell him just yet but, then again we`ll save money on the appearance fees owed on him if he goes!

Joena Carwis, Truly Asia (31/08/2008 at 15:01)

Another Corluka anyone? He has clearly never heard of us, and has no idea who he has joined.

dougie75, North Manchester (31/08/2008 at 16:31)

zin zimmer,

Have you got wednesdays lottery numbers?

Chip Butty,

Its City not Citeh, Citeh is rag speak!

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