Javi Garcia has left Manchester City for Zenit St Petersburg…
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Manchester City midfielder Javi Garcia has joined Russia side Zenit St Petersburg, with the move being offically announced on the club’s website.
He will join former Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas at Zenit, and leaves City after playing 71 games in two seasons.
The Daily Mail reported yesterday that the 27-year-old will undergo a medical and discuss personal terms on Thursday. His departure will allow the Premier League champions to meet the foreign player criteria put in place by the FA.
A team can only register a certain number of overseas players per season, and City were well aware of their need to force through sales to accommodate the arrivals of Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala. If they had failed to do so they would essentially be paying the wages of a player who would not be permitted to play for them.
The Spaniard never lived up to his billing at the Etihad Stadium since a 2012 move from Benfica, and was perhaps the most obvious choice for manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany and David Silva have signed new long-term deal at the Etihad Stadium, with both players aiming to be part of a third title campaign in just four years.
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