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#3 Nicolas Otamendi
Nicolas Otamendi's career has been one of several ups and downs.The oldest player on this list at 29 years of age, Otamendi has often been considered not good enough for a club of Manchester City's stature and ambition and has often had to play second fiddle to captain Vincent Kompany.
With Kompany injured this season, Otamendi has become a regular starter at the club ahead of Eliaquim Mangala and has exceeded expectations so far. The often error-prone center back has been surprisingly solid and dependable alongside a talented John Stones. Together, they have successfully formed a stable partnership at the back, something that Manchester City haven't had in over 5 years.
Pep Guardiola certainly has an interesting decision to make when Kompany returns from injury. Under the Catalan coach, Otamendi has shown marked improvement in positioning as well as passing, skills which haven't necessarily been his strongest assets in the past. Under Pep, the Argentine has revived his flailing career and has certainly become a force to reckon with.
Argentina's national team isn't very well known for their defence, but on current form, Otamendi walks right into the first team. Strong in the air and a physical presence at the back, Nicolas Otamendi has become a valuable asset to both club and country.
