As the Premier League reaches it’s final furlong, fans and pundits alike are beginning to draw up conclusions to who the signing of the season has been. Robin van Persie, Michu and Eden Hazard will understandably figure highly, such has been their impressive attacking prowess for Manchester United, Swansea City and Chelsea, respectively.
However, one player that may be cruelly overlooked is Manchester City centre-back Matija Nastasic. The Serbia international signed for the Premier League champions from Fiorentina last summer, with Stefan Savic going the other way.
Many a City fan felt this signing of Nastasic would simply be a second coming of Savic, but after making his debut against Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the 19-year-old has won over the hearts of fans following a number of imperious performances that wouldn’t have looked over a place from a defender 10 years his senior.
Furthermore, the young defender enjoyed an impressive evening during the victory over Aston Villa on Monday night alongside Kolo Toure, keeping a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory at Villa Park, winning all seven of his aerial duels as City shortened the gap at the summit of the Premier League to 12 points once again.
While the aforementioned trio are likely to be mooted as the signings of the season, there is no reason why Nastasic shouldn’t be mentioned in the same breath, especially with Vincent Kompany’s recent injury problems not aiding to City’s quest to retain their title.