Everything you need to know about Manchester City signing Javi Garcia

Manchester City have moved quickly to replace AC Milan bound Nigel De Jong by reportedly tying up a deal for Spanish international Javi Garcia from Benfica.

So who is he and what does he bring to Eastlands?

1. Javi was born in Mula, Spain in 1987 and he signed for the Real Madrid cantera at the age of 9 in 1996.

2. Javi’s cousin is Luis Garcia, currently at Mexican side UNAM and previously of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and of course Liverpool fame.

3. Although originally an attacking minded midfield player he has been moulded into a defensive midfield player who can also operate at centre half, similarly to fellow Spaniard, City target and now Bayern Munich newboy Javi Martinez.

4. He made his La Liga debut with Real Madrid aged 17 in 2004 during a 5-0 rout of Levante.

5. After two successful seasons for the Real Madrid ‘B’ team he was sold to Osasuna with a buy-back clause active in his contract. Similar deals went through at the same time for the now retired Ruben De La Red and new QPR recruit Esteban Granero.

6. After an impressive season in the North he returned to Real Madrid the following summer but again failed to cement a first team spot and he was sold to Benfica for €7 million in 2009.

8. He has since established himself in the Lisbon side’s first team, helping them in impressive European campaigns and to the Portuguese league title in 2010.

9. He represented Spain at youth level from the age of 15 and helped them win the Uefa Under-19 European Championships in 2006 in a team containing such talents as Juan Mata, Diego Capel and Gerard Pique.

10. He made his first and only international cap in May of this year coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Serbia.

So can the Spaniard fill the boots of Nigel De Jong? Here he is in action…

images: © LivingOS, © alfonso jimenez