CLICHY SIGNS

Manchester City have managed to extend the contract offer one of their important players. Defender Gael Clichy has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club for the next four years. Clichy was signed from Arsenal for around £ 7 million back in the summer of 2011. He has proven to be one of the influential players at the club. The 27-year-old has already made 74 appearances for City during this period. Now, he will stay at the club until 2017 in a news that will boost the morale of the club, which has suffered a lot of this season.

City started the season as the reigning Premier league champions, but they have failed to win any major trophy this season. They were also knocked out of the European competitions at a very early stage as well. Clichy has been able to get regular game time despite finding competition from Alexander Kolarov, who is an extremely good defender himself. He has said that the season has not gone according to plan, but he is confident that City will be able to reclaim their dominance from next season onwards.

In the absence of manager Roberto Mancini, caretaker manager Brian Kidd has said that the club is extremely delighted to sign Clichy on a long-term deal.

“Things didn’t go the way we wanted them to this year but we’ll come back stronger next season. We are just going to keep moving forward and raising the bar,” said Clichy. “We are building a side that will challenge for honours for years to come and to do that, you need top quality players – Gael comfortably fits into the bracket. Gael is a top professional off the pitch as well as on it and his attitude and conduct is faultless. He is a manager’s dream,” said Kidd.