The agent of Man City centre-half Nicolas Otamendi says his client is ‘dying’ to return to Argentina to see out his player career with River Plate.
Otamendi was a key cog in the Citizens’ backline for the first three years of his stint in Manchester, but has fallen out of favour in dramatic fashion in the last 18 months.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a standout season in 2017-18, notching four goals and even earning a place in the PFA team of the year as Pep Guardiola secured his first Premier League title at the Etihad.
The following season, Otamendi was dropped in favour of a Vincent Kompany-Aymeric Laporte partnership, with John Stones also laying waste to the Argentine’s gametime.
Things have fallen further still in the current campaign, with holding midfielder Fernandinho now seemingly ahead of Otamendi in the central-defensive pecking order to partner the recently returned Laporte.
Now, Otamendi’s agent – Martin Sendoa – has revealed that the defender wishes to return to his native country to end his career with River Plate.
“Nicolas’ desire is to retire in River, he is dying to play there,” Sendoa told TyC Sports (via Goal.com)
“He is well at [Manchester City], he is playing more than last year. But if River calls him and convinces him…in June it may happen.
“No leader has called me, they still have not made a move. Nicolas is not going to offer, he has to get the call from Gallardo. But one call would change everything.”
One very obvious obstacle between Otamendi and a move back home concerns the finances.
With two years remaining on his current deal and a hefty weekly wage packet, the likelihood of any Argentinian club being able to afford his salary seems slim at best.
“It is very difficult for an Argentine club to pay his contract,” Sendoa added. “Otamendi is a top player and is playing in the best league in the world.”
Meanwhile, Man City boss Pep Guardiola has name-checked Jurgen Klopp and joked about getting the sack.
With the league all but gone, City attentions will turn to the Champions League but his side face stiff opposition in Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid.
“If we don’t beat them, the owner can arrive and say: “You’re not good enough, I’m going to fire you,” said Guardiola, as cited by El Mundo Deportivo.
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