The diaspora of the 2010 Champions League winners from Inter Milan continued on Friday, with Manchester City nabbing a player who, despite some regression, is one of the world’s better right backs. For Maicon, he gets a reunion with Roberto Mancini, with whom he won two Scudetti in Italy. He also gets a nice new contract.
Who is this guy: At his best, he’s one of the best right backs in the world. A strong, athletic defenderwith a powerful shot, Maicon scored 16 goals in 176 league appearances during his six year tenure in Milan. At 31 years old, he’s starting to regress from the form that made him the best right back in the world, part of the reason a restructuring Inter are willing to move on.
What does he do: More than other elite right backs, Maicon is capable of doing a little bit of everything. His speed and athleticism can provide width in attack or, using his powerful shot, a threat cutting in. In defense, he can play as a conventional full back or a wing back (valuable given Mancini’s current dalliance with a 3-5-2). He has the physical strength to match attackers one-on-one. Injuries are starting to become a concern, and his rate of regression will be key to whether this is a worthwhile move for City.
How much did he cost: Only £3 million ($4.8 million), a price influenced by age and contract (Maicon was in the last year of his deal). His new deal runs through June 2014.
How does he fit: Not many players could step right into City’s team, but Maicon should. He can play on the right in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2. He has the physical strength to compete immediately in the Premier League, and being familiar with Roberto Mancini, Maicon’s transition time should be minimal.
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