MANCHESTER CITY HAVE confirmed the signing of Celta Vigo forward Nolito on a four-year deal.
The Spain international was linked to a return to former club Barcelona for 2016-17, but City have won the race for his signature, having met his release clause thought to be £13.8 (€16.5) million.
The move reunites Nolito with Pep Guardiola, who coached him at Barca B in 2007-08, and he is eager to impress at his new club.
“I’ll try to bring as much as I possibly can. I’ll do everything that the manager asks of me, try my absolute best and do everything I can to try to repeat the form I’ve shown throughout my career at various clubs,” he told City’s official website.
It’s just about trying to play my normal game and let’s hope that I can help Manchester City to win games.
“I think that Pep Guardiola is one of the best managers in the world. He knows a lot about the game and he’s going to help me progress as a player and I’m sure he’ll get the best out of me.”
Nolito is City’s second signing of the close season, following Ilkay Gudogan to the Etihad Stadium.
He spent spells at Benfica and Granada before his initial loan move to Celta during 2012-13 was made permanent.
Nolito did not make his international debut until he was 28, but a pair of doubles in Spain’s pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Bosnia-Herzegovina and South Korea helped earn him a place in the final squad.
The 29-year-old started all four matches for Vicente del Bosque’s side in France, but the reigning champions were sent out in the last 16 by Italy.
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