In honour of a modern legend and cult-hero, Pablo Zabaleta
With his peak behind him and injuries damaging his career, it’s time for Pablo Zabaleta to move on and although his departure has been anticipated for some time now it’s still deeply saddening to see such a loved character depart. I guess, in a way, we have all been repressing the thought of Zabaleta playing outside of Manchester but as the transfer window beckons and Roma knock on the door once more, it’s looking likely that the Argentine has kicked his last ball in a City shirt. With only one year left on his contract, a fee in the region of £2.5 million could be enough to persuade him to join former teammate, Edin Dzeko, in Italy’s capital city.
Arriving just a day before the financial takeover in 2008, Zabaleta has since made over 300 appearances, outlasted over 30 former players and played his part in winning six domestic trophies. Although his ‘hot-head’ has earned him red cards and cautions in the past, it’s the same full-throttle, never-say-die attitude he has on the pitch that unifies him so tightly with the fans. Adoration of his desire, passion and courage rank Zabaleta highly in a league of City fan favorites among past cult heroes such as Richard Dunne and Shaun Goater.
Deployed on either side of the centre-backs and in defensive midfield as one of Mark Hughes’ many signings during his reign as City boss, it would be under Roberto Mancini where Zabaleta thrived most. At first, Zabaleta wasn’t a first-team player, Micah Richards’ fine form granted him time on the right and then after that new arrivals, Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov, threatened his regular presence, but that didn’t stop him. The Serb threatened with a powerful left-foot in theory but in practice was clumsy in his debut year and Zabaleta stepped in to impress, even on his less preferred side of full-back.
Before the start of the 2011-2012 season he hadn’t made as many starting appearances as he’d probably hoped for, yet he agreed to sign a new 3-year contract to fight for his place in the team – another example of his unquestioned commitment to the club. And what a decision that was, since this was, in actual fact, his breakthrough season. Gael Clichy had just arrived to re-enforce the left hand side and Micah Richards had struggled with recurring injuries, Zabaleta naturally stepped in once more and made the right-back position his own. City had upgraded season after season since the takeover, and it was this individual and team improvement that spurred Zabaleta on to become a better player, in many ways he had to improve. By the end of that season, historic as it were, Zabaleta was a consistent starter; his energy in attack and combative traits in defense massively contributed to City’s first ever Premier League title win.
The Argentinian warrior had built a foundation, and had carried on to build upon it in the next season when picked up Etihad’s Player Of The Season and was included in the PFA Team Of The Season. A guaranteed 7/10 every single week, Zabaleta had been rightly trusted with the vice-captaincy and was at that point one of the first names on the team-sheet.
While it was on the pitch he developed to be one of the Premier League’s best right-backs of all time and fan-favorite, it was off it where he become a proper Mancunian. A refreshing change from the generic foreign footballer, Zabaleta had embraced the Manchester culture, he played and kissed the badge but the difference here was that he meant it. There was a certain unity between the fans and the player, because after years living with the atmosphere around him, he had himself become a fan of Manchester City.
“I’d prefer to go home, on the sofa, and watch City games.” – Zabaleta, when asked if he’d play football for Man United or never play football again.
Now, at 31, Zabaleta is on the decline and it has been difficult to watch such a servant struggle like he has this season but it’s the harsh truth. When he hasn’t been plagued by injuries, his game has been under-par and that has left the opportunity to replace – which Bacary Sagna has done ever so well. Moving on to Roma would make sense for not only the club but also Zabaleta himself, as it is becoming clear he would not feature under a fourth City manager, Pep Guardiola. Whatever happens, Zabaleta won’t be forgotten anytime soon, his name is in the history books, he is a modern Manchester City legend and remember; ‘”Always be yourself, unless you can Pablo Zabaleta, then always be Pablo Zabaleta.