5 of Manchester City's best signings since the Abu Dhabi takeover

#2 David Silva (2010 - Present)

Merlin is a player that will forever be in Cityzens' hearts

Magician, maestro, playmaker, genius, wizard and everyone’s favourite poltergeist, these and many other appellations are perfect for describing Silva.

When El Mago was signed from Valencia in 2010 (same season as Yaya) for £25m, his small stature and slight, wispy look was met with mocking by thick and not-very-intelligent British pundits. To be fair to them, he did not settle immediately as Mancini kept switching him between the flanks and behind the strikers; the trequartista role.

He took a couple of months to settle but when he did, the rest of the league was blown away by the quality he possessed. Calm on the ball with an eye for a pass, he was difficult to push off the ball and was at the heart of Manchester City’s every attacking move.

He was instrumental under Mancini and Pellegrini playing a starring role in the league triumphs under both managers. However, his game went up a level when Guardiola turned up and last season (in spite of his child’s premature birth), he got double figures in goals and assists for the first time in his career.

He recently announced his retirement from the national team where he had played with distinction and his City career looks to be ending in a couple of seasons. Blue Noses i.e. Manchester City fans will always have a place in their hearts for the Arguineguín-born genius they affectionately named Merlin.