The Fans Football Blog3

Madrid sports tabloid As claims that Manchester City right back defender and Argentinian international Pablo Zabaleta (23) was one of the main transfer targets of Barcelona this summer.

Barcelona would have offered the then Espanyol player a four year (plus an extra optional year) contract worth 2,2 million euro gross a year but Zabaleta rejected the offer up to four times.

Espanyol was not very willing to sell but let the player make a decision. Although he could join his close friend Messi, Zabaleta decided not to sign for Barcelona because of the rivalry between the two teams.

In the end, Barcelona transferred Sevilla right back Daniel Alves and in late August Zabaleta moved to the English Premier League. The Argentinian signed a five-year deal with Manchester City, that paid the buyout clause of 8 million euro°.

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