Mendy explains his strengths after £52m City move

Matt Stead

New Manchester City signing Benjamin Mendy is confident he is the right man to join the most expensively-assembled defence in history.

The Monaco left-back’s arrival in a reported £49.4million deal takes Pep Guardiola’s summer spending past £200m, with defensive acquisitions alone totalling £156million as Mendy joins Real Madrid’s Danilo and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker as back-four recruits, in addition to new goalkeeper Ederson, bought from Benfica.

That quartet join a unit which already includes John Stones (£47.5m) Nicolas Otemendi (£32m) and the now unwanted Eliaquim Mangala (£42m).

Guardiola has also recruited Mendy’s Monaco team-mate Bernardo Silva (£43.6m) to bolster his midfield options.

“I think I am the right person for the group. I am easily adaptable,” Mendy told mancity.com.

“There are some players with whom I exchanged a few emails, (as) I knew them from some years ago.

“I can bring a lot of creativity in the game, I can offer different solutions, I like to take to play as full-back and provide assists for the strikers.

“I am very proud of joining Manchester City, this is what I wanted from the very beginning.

“As soon as the championship was over, I talked to my family and it was all clear in my head, I wanted to join Manchester City. I’m really happy about it.”

“Since I was a kid it was a dream to play in the Premier League and I will do everything I can to enjoy every minute of it.”

Mendy has signed a five-year contract and will now join up with his new team-mates in the United States, where Pep Guardiola and his squad are preparing for their second pre-season tour game against Real Madrid in Los Angeles.

Having worked with the renowned Marcelo Bielsa at Marseille, Mendy is looking forward to linking up with Guardiola.

“They are one of Europe’s leading clubs and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager committed to playing attacking football,” he added.

“I am sure that over the next few years we will be successful.”

City had been chasing Mendy for several months and, although the deal took a while to complete, City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain insists the 23-year-old was always their main target.

“Benjamin has all the qualities we are looking for in a full-back. For such a young player, he has a wealth of top-level experience,” he said.

“He is undoubtedly one of the world’s best full-backs, our number one target in this position. We are all delighted to have him here at Manchester City.

“I’m sure he will prove a fantastic addition to the squad.”