Pep Guardiola hails ‘incredible’ Ruben Dias and backs Man City defender to shine for ‘next seven years’

Man City boss Pep Guardiola has praised Ruben Dias’ start to life in England.

The Portugal defender has transformed City’s defence since joining in a £61.2million deal from Benfica last summer.

City have the best defensive record in the Premier League this season having conceded just 13 goals.

And Guardiola has backed Dias to shine for the next seven years at the Etihad.

He said: “When you buy players always you have this quality but you never know what is going to happen.

“He is a guy that can play every three days. He recovers immediately and his ability is incredible, as is his understanding of the game.

“He wants to learn and all of us were impressed how he takes care of his body and mind, every day. We were surprised a lot.

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“The day after [a game] – 8.30 in the morning in the gym. He makes his routine, he eats perfectly. He lives 24 hours for his profession.

“I can assure you that we signed one incredible player for the next five, six, seven years. That is not easy to find.”

Despite Guardiola’s tendency to rotate his starting XI, Dias has started all bar two of City’s past 21 games, while forming a solid defensive partnership with John Stones.

The Spaniard added: “The best signs are when as a player you can be used and play every three days. It is not easy to do.

“The quality may always be there but when you have a player who is injured every two or three weeks or every month, and you have to stop every time, that is not good for the team and the club itself.

“That is why we are so fortunate and hopefully he can continue.”