There was a point, not so very long ago, where it looked like Eliaquim Mangala didn't have much of a future at Man City.
Despite joining for an exorbitant £42 million fee in 2014, the France international spent last season on loan at Valencia while City again spent big bringing in a raft of defensive replacements.
However, Mangala has since returned to the City fold and, for the time being at least, has been integrated back into Pep Guardiola's squad.
Indeed, he appears to be staking a decent claim for a place in the first-team by effortlessly converting acrobatic scissor volleys in training.
.@elia22mangala! 😱 pic.twitter.com/nEuJG74KUW
- Manchester City (@ManCity) August 11, 2017
Perfect technique and a decent contact -- not bad for a 6-foot-2 central defender!
City are all set kick off their 2017-18 Premier League campaign with a trip to newly-promoted Brighton on Saturday evening.