Martin Demichelis signs 1-year contract extension with Manchester City
Martin Demichelis became the latest player to commit to Manchester City on Thursday, putting pen to paper on a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the 2015-16 season.
It's an extension that few would have envisioned a year ago, when the 34-year-old centre-back was struggling to make an impact at City after initially joining the club in September 2013. However, Demichelis is currently enjoying an excellent campaign and has established himself as a regular starter for Manuel Pellegrini's side.
"I want to say that I am really proud and happy to have extended my contract for another year," Demichelis said. "Manchester City is a Club with a lot of ambition. We want to grow every year. When you get to hold a trophy, it's the best feeling for any player. I want to say that I will for this Club and for my teammates until the end of my contract. I will fight to try and win titles."
Demichelis also hinted that he could play for City beyond 2016, saying: "I had the experience of living in Germany for so many years, so it wasn't so difficult to adapt to living in England.
"We are happy here - my wife and son are happy here. We are trying to improve our English and I think that's a good thing for our future. At this stage I am enjoying playing week to week - you can never say what can happen in the future."
City recently teamed up with sports data company Opta to uncover some stats behind Demichelis' 2014-15 season, and the numbers speak for themselves:
- City have won 63.6 percent of the game Demichelis has started, compared to 50 percent when he hasn't.
- He has completed 88.87 percent of the 1006 passes he's attempted this season.
- He has committed only 20 fouls in 22 appearances this season, addressing any concerns over his defensive abilities.