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With Spanish ace Alvaro Negredo joining former Sevilla team mate Jesus Navas at Manchester City, new boss Manuel Pellegrini will have plenty of talent at his disposal this season, and his latest Spanish recruits will play a vital role in City’s campaign to wrestle back the Premier League crown from Manchester rivals, United.
The Chilean has an excellent reputation for getting the best out of his players, something which will undoubtedly worry City’s title rivals Man United and Chelsea, especially considering the number of high profile names City’s squad boasts. Negredo was La Liga’s top Spanish goalscorer last season, and if anyone can help him replicate his excellent form in the Premier League, it’s Pellegrini.
Furthermore, Pellegrini will know an awful lot about his Spanish additions, given that he managed in Spain for 9 years and has watched the pair develop as players. He has come up against both players on several occasions during his managerial career and will know exactly where their strengths and weaknesses lye.
Together, Navas and Negredo have proved a lethal force in La Liga in the last few seasons, with the pair combining to hit the back of the net on numerous occasions. In terms of their style of play however, they couldn’t be more different. Negredo is a goal poacher, a strong, powerful attacker who gets the majority of his goals from inside the penalty area. Navas on the other hand is a pacey, tricky winger who enjoyes creating chances more than finishing them off. Together they form a partnership many La Liga defences have come to dread facing, and a partnership that is certain to worry City’s Premier League opponents.
Another bonus for City is that the pair already know each other, they have played together for years and understand how each other work. They are also very good friends, with Navas already very close to fan favourite David Silva. So there is no bonding to be done here, the pair have a head start. They will also be determined to make an impact in Manchester, especially in the Champions League where Negredo and Navas had continually expressed a desire to play.
Of course, there will be question marks raised over Navas in particular, with the 27-year-old suffering from homesickness and anxiety attacks when he was younger. But City wouldn’t have taken the risk unless they were sure it would pay off, and with vastly experienced Pellegrini in charge and long time friends Silva and Negredo at the Etihad, City fans don’t have a lot to be concerned about.
Roll on the new season!
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