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According to multiple sources this morning, Manchester City and soon-to-be-former Arsenal right back Bacary Sagna have agreed to terms on a staggering salary package for the 31-year old:
Manchester City are on the verge of announcing the signing of Bacary Sagna on a free transfer from Arsenal, with the right-back to earn at least £120,000 a week.
The 31-year-old is thought to have agreed a three-year deal to take him to the Premier League champions and strengthen Manuel Pellegrini’s defensive options.
Three years and at least £120,000 a week? Yeah, there was no chance of Arsenal ever being an option for Sagna. His move to City now makes it five Arsenal players to move to the Eastlands since 2009 (Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor, Gael Clichy, and Samir Nasri being the other four).
That this deal was done so quickly after Arsenal's season ended last Saturday makes it crystal clear that Sagna's agents and City have been negotiating since at least January 1st, when he was free to talk with other clubs since his contract was up.
Personally, I'll miss seeing him line up in our side each week, and I will most definitely miss his stellar defensive acumen, versatility and intelligence. I bet Theo Walcott's a bit sad, too, this morning.
But at 31 years of age, turning 32 during next season, it's also probably time for both parties in this situation to call it time and move on from each other. I can't begrudge Sagna for seeking out one last, very large payday, especially since this is about as professional of a parting that we've seen from one of our players in recent memory. And I certainly won't complain that Arsene Wenger was unwilling to match the reported offer Sagna's getting from City.
Further, Serge Aurier's practically done everything but shown up to Colney with his bags packed, willing to play for the love of the club, and for the rumored transfer fee for a player of his quality and age it would make the Sagna split that much easier to get over.