Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City signed Nicolas Otamendi because he wanted a new central defender.
City this week bought Otamendi from Valencia for around £32 million (Dh185m) having previously given little indication they were seeking a player in that position.
It was suggested the Spanish club may have pushed for the deal because they owe City after agreeing to sign Alvaro Negredo for £24m (Dh139m) last year, but manager Pellegrini says that was not a factor.
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He said: “(There was) not a change of mind in the last moment. “We tried to buy a centre-back from the beginning of this new season. For different reasons we couldn’t buy before. Always in my mind was to bring in a centre-back this year.
“We worked during the summer with different options. We moved a lot of different options. Finally we agreed that the best option was Otamendi but, I repeat, it was the idea I had from the beginning.”
There were also reports that City defender Eliaquim Mangala, a £42m (Dh69m) signing last year, could move to Valencia on loan as part of the deal for Otamendi. Pellegrini admits this possibility was raised but he refused.