Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City for £210 million in 2008. Despite many critics and pundits proclaiming the club to be a plaything of the billionaire, Mansour has continued to back Manchester City and invest into their infrastructure.
Mansour has owned Manchester City for 10 years now. A number of high-profile players have come and gone. From Ivorians to Argentines, Englishmen to Spaniards, Manchester City have attracted some of the world’s best players in the last decade. But which players have been the cream of the crop since Sheikh Mansour took over?
Today, Fantasy Sports ranks the top five Manchester City players of the Sheikh Mansour era.
5. Carlos Tevez – 2009-2013
In July 2013, Carlos Tevez joined Manchester City from archrivals Manchester United. Having played two seasons for the Red Devils, Tevez signature was a coup and signalled Manchester City’s intent. Over the course of four seasons, Tevez tallied 73 goals in 143 games. His biggest successes came in back to back seasons. Tevez led the Cityzens to the FA Cup in 2011, and one season later, helped them win the Premier League title. Manchester City won the championship in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season. It marked their first league title in 44 years.
4. Yaya Toure – 2010-2018
Yaya Toure arrived at Manchester City from Barcelona in 2010. The Ivorian had been an integral figure at Camp Nou, but he left due to issues with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. Some felt Toure wasn’t worth his high salary and would be unable to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. Manchester City paid £27 million for Toure and he quickly showed he was worth the money. Toure scored at least six goals in each of his first three Premier League seasons. His best season came in 2013-14 when he tallied 20 goals in 35 Premier League games while adding nine assists. Toure won three league titles, an FA Cup, and two League Cups during his time at the Etihad.
3. Davi Silva – 2010-present
David Silva isn’t a flashy player nor does he get a lot of headlines. He does score and creates goals, and is the ultimate team player. Silva joined the club in 2010 from Valencia for £25.88m. In eight full seasons at the Etihad, Silva has tallied double-digit assists in six. Silva has only scored double-digit goals once and that came in 2014-15. However, the goals he does score are vital. He continues to be one of Manchester City’s most important stars even though he can be easily overlooked.
2. Vincent Kompany – 2008-present
Technically, Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City just before Sheikh Mansour bought the club. Regardless of his transfer coming weeks prior to the takeover, Kompany has continually proven just how important he is to the Cityzens. Kompany’s £7.65m transfer looks, even more, a bargain today. Despite injuries curtailing his most recent seasons, Kompany remains an important player on and off the pitch.
1. Sergio Aguero – 2011-present
Sergio Aguero arrived at Manchester City for a reported £35m in 2011. Aguero had already proven his worth at Spanish club Atletico Madrid. There, Aguero scored 101 goals in 234 games. He also won the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup trophies. When he arrived at Manchester City, they were in desperate need of further goalscoring and pace. In his first season, Manchester City won the Premier League title and Aguero played a major part in the final day drama. He has since collected two more league trophies and three EFL Cups. He also won the Premier League Golden Boot award in 2014-15. Aguero continues to bag goals and Manchester City are soaring thanks to his play in 2018.
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