Eliaquim Mangala completed his move from Manchester City to Valencia on a free transfer yesterday and the Premier League champions posted a farewell tweet wishing him well at the Mestalla.
We can confirm @Elia22Mangala has joined Valencia on a permanent deal.
Best of luck, Elia!
#mancity pic.twitter.com/oXn35SEabS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 13, 2019
Sky Sports reported that the 28-year-old France defender has moved to the La Liga club on a free transfer, despite having one season left on his Manchester City contract, and signed a two-year deal with Valencia, where he spent the 2016/17 season on loan.
Mangala signed for the Premier League champions five years ago but struggled for game-time under Pep Guardiola, playing just 15 times for the current manager, and had two loan spells away from the Etihad Stadium as he attempted to gain more regular first-team football.
The defender did not play a single minute for Manchester City’s first team last season, with his most recent appearance for the club coming in December 2017 against Crystal Palace, as noted by Sky Sports.
Despite falling firmly behind John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Aymeric Laporte in the centre-back pecking order at the Etihad, plenty of Manchester City fans seemed rueful about his departure from the club, with some paying tribute to Mangala on Twitter:
Good luck Manga, hero to us all
— ® (@CrossingTheBall) August 13, 2019
Miss you already mate pic.twitter.com/UCk3YdhyqH
— (@omarmcfc01) August 13, 2019
Good luck, Elia. Pleasure to have you at the club. All the best at Valencia #MightyQuim
— The Bertieful South (@BertiefulSouth) August 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/jfg96_/status/1161368110982750209
He was my Mangala of the match, every match. Goodbye, BQM. Prem not suited to u pal x
— Ciarz (@CiarzScrawlings) August 13, 2019
Statue needed outside Etihad
— 1110 (@ezhan_javed) August 13, 2019
Honesty heartbroken
— Dylan (@McfcDylan2019) August 13, 2019
Shame it didn’t work out at City for him, hope he bounces back at Valencia. Won’t forget his celebration after the United game in the tunnel. All the best @Elia22Mangala
— Paul Joseph (@PaulJosephPJM) August 13, 2019
About the Author
