What Rúben Dias Brings to Manchester City

As the corner kick soared into the penalty area, Rúben Dias shuffled into position, climbing above his gold-shirted opponent to thump in Benfica's opening goal.

On the face of it, this was nothing more than the first in a regulation 2-0 win for the Eagles, but after the match Dias dropped a less than subtle hint about the wider significance of the game and the goal, saying: "It is a special moment and I think everyone already knows why."

If that does prove to be his final game in a Benfica shirt, Dias will have ended his 12-year long spell at the Lisbon giants with a flourish. The 23-year-old centre back is thought to be on the verge of joining Manchester City in a move expected to be in the region of £55m.

After two near-perfect seasons of Premier League success, Pep Guardiola's side offered a limp title tilt in the previous campaign as Liverpool opened up an 18-point chasm at the top of the table. Bizarrely, City recorded the most clean sheets in the division but their defensive frailties were ultimately their undoing.

Following the departure of Vincent Kompany - alongside injuries and dips in form throughout the normal options - Guardiola was forced to regularly deploy Fernandinho at the heart of defence. While the intelligent Brazilian didn't struggle in this position, it removed him from the defensive pivot role which he had come to master over the previous two seasons.

The addition of Dias will not only bolster City's fragile backline, but give Guardiola the option of moving Fernandinho into midfield.

City's first defensive addition of the summer was the £41m arrival of Nathan Aké, largely as cover for Aymeric Laporte as the left centre back. The right-footed Dias will likely vie for the starting berth alongside the uncapped Frenchman, providing the balance Guardiola looks for in a centre-back pairing.

Most players arriving at a team managed by Guardiola require a sizeable bedding-in period given the sheer width and breadth of the instructions and demands from the Catalan coach. However, Dias is used to playing in a side which dominates the ball and is very comfortable in possession.

In each of Dias' three season in the first team, Benfica have consistently completed the highest number of short passes per game in Portugal's top flight. Dias' ability with the ball at his feet is arguably his greatest strength and is heavily involved in the team's build-up play.

As well as frequently fizzing a diagonal out to Benfica's left back - a passing lane he could surely recreate in Manchester with the ever-adventurous Benjamin Mendy - Dias is adept at playing incisive, progressive passes on the ground.

At their best - winning the 2019 Portuguese top flight title under former manager Bruno Lage - Benfica tried to snatch the ball back as quickly as possible after losing possession. Dias was an active defender in this system, often intent on trying to steal the ball off an opponent.

This can create gaps in the backline but Laporte is a player more than capable of recognising when to fill in behind his teammate.

At Benfica, Dias struck up a youth-infused partnership alongside fellow 23-year-old Ferro. The pair dovetailed well partly because of their contrasting demeanours according to Lage, who described Dias as 'a very strong personality' while Ferro was 'more rational, more calm'.

Dias' confidence and leadership, despite his age, was recognised with the captain's armband on a number of occasions in recent seasons. While it's unlikely Dias will be able to instantly replicate this authority arriving at a new side, in a new country, with a new language, it can't exactly hurt to have a naturally commanding presence in defence.

After scoring in the club's season-opener away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gabriel Jesus became the latest addition to an ever-expanding list of injuries for City this season. Laporte's lengthy absence last campaign was another significant factor behind City's lack of a sustained title challenge.

Dias, on the other hand, has enjoyed a merciful injury record in his admittedly nascent career. The 6'1 centre back hasn't missed a single game through fitness concerns since cementing his first team status in January 2018. In fact, he's only missed three league matches in the past two seasons.

The commanding centre half has been in similarly high demand for his national team. After appearing in a myriad of age brackets - from under-16 to 21 - Dias was an unused member of the World Cup 2018 squad. Yet, after the tournament, Dias has started each and every one of Portugal's 18 subsequent matches.

A definitive assessment of Dias is difficult given he has spent his entire senior career playing for Benfica - a side which is vastly superior to almost every other team they meet each week. Yet, at just 23 years of age, Dias is an impressive talent who possesses a wealth of attributes which hint at a bright future in Guardiola's side.