Garrido leaves City

Javier Garrido’s three-year stay at Manchester City has come to an end after the club today announced he has joined Serie A giants Lazio.

The 25-year-old Spaniard moved to Eastlands for £1.5m from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2007 but has fallen down the pecking order over the past two seasons.

A short statement on the City website, www.mcfc.co.uk, said: “He leaves for Italy with the best wishes of everyone at the club.”

Garrido arrived before the era of big-money transfers at City and played the majority of their matches during his first season at the club.

But his second season proved difficult, a goal against Liverpool notwithstanding, and last season he did not make a first-team appearance until Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as manager in December.

A few days later, the Spaniard came off the bench and scored a spectacular free-kick against Wolves but he played in only 10 subsequent matches.

And Garrido’s chances of building on his 49 appearances were reduced further when Aleksandar Kolarov moved from Lazio to City six days ago, while fellow new signing Jerome Boateng can also play at left-back.

Former England full-back Wayne Bridge is also available to Mancini.