City agree fee for Zabaleta

Argentina international set for Eastlands talks and medical

Last updated: 29th August 2008

City agree fee for Zabaleta

Zabaleta: City medical

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Espanyol defender Pablo Zabaleta is travelling to Manchester City for talks and a medical ahead of his proposed move to the Premier League club.

The Eastlands outfit have made an €8million (£6.45million) offer for the Argentina international, which meets the buy-out clause in his contract.

Zabaleta has only recently returned from Beijing where he helped his country triumph in the Olympic football tournament, and has now been given the green light to hold talks with Mark Hughes' side.

Medical

A statement on the Spanish club's official website read: "Espanyol have decided, taking into account the player must leave next Sunday to join up with his national team, to authorise the player to travel to Manchester to take a medical this Friday, while the English club deals with the documentation of the termination of the Argentinian full-back's contract with the Catalan team.

"Until this moment, Espanyol have tried to convince Zabaleta to continue in Barcelona, but the defender has shown his determination to continue his career in the Premier League."

Zabaleta joined Espanyol from San Lorenzo in 2005 and has been a regular member of the Barcelona-based club's first team, helping them win the 2006 Copa del Rey.