Eliaquim Mangala is British football's most expensive defender but Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis says he still has a lot to learn. The Argentinian defender as fought off Managala to keep his position as first-choice defensive partner to City skipper Vincent Kompany. City paid Porto £40million for France international Mangala last season.

Demichelis says Mangala is experiencing similar problems to those he had when he moved from River Plate to Bayern Munich at a young age.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "Manga is the same age as I was when I went to Bayern from Argentina. He is helped by the fact he has tremendous physical condition but obviously he has things to learn.

He is a very good guy and keen to improve, and I think he will become a very good player."

Despite being City's oldest player Demichellis states he also one of the fittest:"I don't want to be arrogant, but if you check the stats I am the [City] player with the fourth most minutes in this Premier League season. The goalkeeper [Joe Hart] always has the most and then comes Yaya Toure, Gael Clichy and after that Demichelis. That shows I am a professional player and that I try to keep injury-free.

"Don't ask me why, whether it was because other players are injured, or because I was lucky, but I played those games in a row."

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