Pablo Zabaleta Bio Send To Friend  

Manchester City completed the signing of Zabaleta before the transfer market closed for the summer in August 2008. The player chose to join City ahead of Juventus.

The Argentinian international moved to Eastlands from Spanish side Espanyol for a fee thought to be in the region of £6.45m.

He began his career back home with San Lorenzo - where he won the Copa Sudamericana - before moving to Europe with the La Liga outfit in 2005 for £2m. That move came shortly after he captained Argentina to the World Under-20 title.

Zabaleta was part of the Espanyol team which lost on penalties to Sevilla in the final of the UEFA Cup in 2007, having alreadt won the King's Cup in 2006.

Primarily a right-back, Zabaleta is also able to play on the right of midfield and the defender was part of the Argentina squad which won the Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

He struggled to make a real impact on the City side, but was used as an able deputy on a muber of occasions and his versatility made him a valuable member of the squad.