Owen Hargreaves has become the latest of Roberto Mancini’s summer signings.
The England midfielder joins as a free agent having left Manchester United at the end of last season. He has signed a one-year contract.
Though injury has taken its toll on the 30-year-old’s career, Hargreaves has 42 international caps to his name, has won five league titles at home and abroad and was awarded the England Player of the Year award in 2006, beating off competition from Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and City’s own Gareth Barry.
Born and raised in Canada, the Blues new signing moved to Germany at the age of 16 after Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich spotted the midfielder’s potential. There he became just the second English player to win a Champions League medal with a foreign club – the first being former Blue Steve McManaman at Real Madrid.
Bayern won the Bundesliga title on four occasions during Hargreaves' time at the club and the City new boy also added three German Cup medals to his own personal collection, before starring for England in the country’s 2006 World Cup campaign.
Despite breaking his leg during the 2006/07 season, Hargreaves was offered the chance of Premier League football with Manchester United in 2007. Though his time at Old Trafford was blighted by further injuries,he won both the Premier League title and the Champions League during his first season in England.
*City youngster Ahmad Benali has teamed up with former youth team coach at League One Rochdale for the season.
http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Team-news/2011/August/Hargreaves-signs-for-City
