Manchester
City on Tuesday confirmed the capture of Portuguese centre-back Ruben Dias on a six-year deal from
Benfica as they look to solve defensive issues that have plagued Pep Guardiola’s
push for a third Premier League crown.

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Benfica had
earlier confirmed Dias’ sale for an initial €68 million (£62 million, $79
million), with €3.6 million in added bonuses, with Argentina international
Nicolas Otamendi heading the other way for €15 million, AFP reported.

“To have
the opportunity to join a club like Manchester City is a fantastic opportunity
for me and one I couldn’t turn down,” Dias said in a statement by City.

“Their
success speaks for itself. They have been the dominant team in England over the
last few years, playing an attacking brand of football, which I feel suits my
own game.”

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“I believe
I can improve here, at a club whose ambitions match my own, and I will give
everything to be successful and win titles.”

Jorge
Jesus, Benfica coach, said that Dias’sale was necessary in order to balance the
books after defeat in the third qualifying round of the Champions League by
Greek side PAOK ended their hopes of reaching the group stage.

Dias became
City’s third signing of the summer after Bournemouth’s Dutch centre-back Nathan
Ake and Valencia’s Spanish winger Ferran Torres.

City were handed
a 2-5 defeat at home by Leicester City on Sunday – the first time a Guardiola
team conceded five goals – further exposing their defensive issues and the need
for further reinforcements.

“Ruben is a
player we have admired for some time and we have been impressed with how he has
progressed at Benfica,” City director of football Txiki Begiristain said. “He
has developed into a real leader and as a defender, he has all the attributes
we are looking for. He is strong in the air, good in one-v-one situations and
technically he is very good, so we are confident he can thrive in our system.”

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With Dias’s
addition, Guardiola’s total spending on defenders has crossed the €450 million-mark
since his arrival at City in 2016.

However, despite the huge outlay, players
like John Stones, Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy have failed to live up to
their potential and are not first-team regulars while Nathan Ake was signed as
a back-up for Aymeric Laporte.

Meanwhile, 32-year-old
Otamendi has won several major honours during his time at the Etihad, including
two Premier League titles and has made over 200 appearances over five seasons. He
previously played for Benfica’s rivals Porto from 2010 to 2014.