Manchester City Close In on Roma Defender Mehdi Benatia
Manchester City are reportedly nearing a deal to sign AS Roma defender Mehdi Benatia, despite initial resistance from the Italian club.
The Moroccan international, who has emerged as one of Serie A’s standout defenders, is believed to be edging closer to a move to the Premier League champions. According to sources close to the negotiations, only minor details remain before a formal agreement is reached.
City are not the only English club to express interest in the 27-year-old. Chelsea are also said to have made an approach earlier this week in an attempt to accelerate discussions. However, Roma have so far refused to sanction a departure, keen to retain one of their most valuable assets—at least unless a substantial offer is tabled.
Benatia, a product of the Marseille youth academy, has been under contract with Roma since his arrival from Udinese in 2013. His current deal runs until June 2018, giving the Serie A side a strong negotiating position.
The Atlas Lion played a pivotal role in Roma’s impressive defensive record last season, helping the club to a second-place finish in the league and Champions League qualification. His commanding presence and composure on the ball have not gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs monitoring his situation.
Roma manager Rudi Garcia has expressed his desire to keep Benatia at the Stadio Olimpico, but the club’s stance may soften if City or Chelsea return with an offer too lucrative to ignore.
With the Premier League season approaching, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is understood to be prioritising defensive reinforcements. Should a deal for Benatia be completed, it would significantly bolster City’s backline, which was at times exposed during their title-winning campaign.
Benatia has also been a mainstay for Morocco at international level and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s top defenders.
As negotiations continue behind the scenes, Roma fans will be watching closely to see whether the club can hold on to one of their most prized players—or whether a Premier League move is now inevitable.
