Otamendi extends Manchester City contract until 2022

Manchester City has shown renewed faith in Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi, announcing Wednesday the club extended the contract of the 29-year-old centre-back until 2022.

Otamendi's previous deal was set to expire in 2020, as "The General" last put pen to paper on a five-year contract in 2015. While his time at the club hasn't been without its hiccups, Otamendi's impressive form this season has seen him become a vital part of Pep Guardiola's backline.

Otamendi has 118 appearances to his name at City overall, and has missed just one of 23 fixtures in the current Premier League campaign. He's celebrated a few goals this season, too, notching five in all competitions, including the winner against Manchester United in December.

Still, Otamendi has faced his fair share of criticism in the past. His all-too-uncomfortable penchant for ground tackles and momentary lapses in focus often made him a shaky option in defence, and his propensity for a studs-up challenge makes him a yellow card magnet; he's garnered 25 in the Premier League, and has seven for the season, making him the joint-top in this category alongside Isaac Hayden and Pablo Zabaleta.

But for Guardiola, it matters little, as his City team has conceded just 17 times in the Premier League this season, the second fewest overall. In Otamendi, he's found a consistent, reliable physical presence who also provides a playmaker's touch. Otamendi leads Europe's top five leagues in completed passes this season with 1,871.

Otamendi's transformation at City this season led Guardiola to heap praise on the 51-times capped Argentina international, offering: "We have a Superman in the team, as Nico Otamendi helped us absolutely."

Guardiola added of Otamendi's contributions to City's 22-match unbeaten streak: "Without Nico, it would not be possible, what we have done. Everyone speaks about a bit of players such as Raheem (Sterling), like David (Silva), like Kevin (De Bruyne), like Sergio (Aguero), and they deserve it, but if I would like to point to a player who deserves full respect, for what they have done until now, it's Nico. Nico has been amazing.

"He is a guy who even with pain in the ankle, in the knee, in the back, he always fights. He's one the hugest competitors I've ever seen in my life.

"He was so important. I cannot imagine the situation we are in at the moment in terms of the table and how we play without him. It would have been impossible."

It's music to the ears of the former Valencia and FC Porto man, who's now on pace to celebrate his first Premier League title as City sits 12 points clear of United at the top of the league standings.