Once Britain’s most expensive defender ever, the years have not been kind to Eliaquim Mangala since his arrival at Manchester City.
The centre back arrived with a lot of promise from Porto but a series of unimpressive displays, as well as significant injuries, mean he is far from the first team at the Etihad these days.
In fact, Pep Guardiola is willing to let him go for free, and it seems a return to former club Valencia is now on the cards.
Plaza Deportivo report on claims from regional radio that Mangala will become a Valencia player this week, so long as he passes a rigorous medical examination first.
However, the entire move is dependant on Mangala proving his fitness. The Frenchman has spent the last year on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury while on loan with Everton in February last year.
That already scuppered a return to Porto, who doubted he’d be able to perform after such an extensive period on the sidelines.
Valencia want him to undergo a thorough test with their external medical advisor Toño Maestro and should Mangala prove his knee has healed sufficiently, will become a Valencia player not long after.
Those tests were taking place at the Hospital Begoña de Gijón today, and everything depends on the outcome.
