Manchester City are almost certainly looking to sign a new centre-back this summer. Pep Guardiola’s side faced major problems throughout 2019/20 in the absence of Aymeric Laporte, through injury, combined with the non-replacement of Vincent Kompany, who left in the summer for Anderlecht.

One of the most prominent names on the shortlist is Ruben Dias, a 22-year-old defender starring at Benfica this season across 28 matches this season. He has the strength, tackling, and passing range to be a success at the Etihad.

With the assistance of WyScout, we take a look at all of his key moments from the 2019/20 campaign.

Winning 50-50s and keeping the pressure on

For Guardiola’s possession-dominant football to work the opponent needs to feel trapped, unable to work their way out of their defensive blockade. City’s centre-backs, then, have an important job in stepping out to pick up 50-50s and maintain pressure.

Dias’ best example of this is during a 4-0 win over Maritimo, when he sprinted onto a loose sideways pass from a team-mate, outmuscled the midfielder, and promptly weaved forward, gaining 20 yards for his team via a sharp one-two.

Against Aves in January, there was a telling moment when the visitors tried to break with a straight pass into the striker – only for Dias to step in ahead of his man before the ball could be held up.

Long-ball distribution

Although Man City don’t play too many long balls, sometimes the centre-backs are permitted to attempt more direct passes out to the wings in order to help break down a particularly sturdy defensive blockade.

Dias excels in this regard. In a match against Rio Ave, Benfica were in the midst of some stale possession when the 22-year-old decided to change the tempo, dropping out of the defensive line to receive the ball – before pinging it 40 yards out to the right wing.

An even better example came in the 5-0 victory over Sporting CP in August, when the visiting side’s ultra-low block was broken by Dias’s brilliant arcing ball deep into the right channel.

Intelligent through balls

The trait that marks Dias out from the majority of his peers is having the technical ability of a central midfielder. Guardiola will be a big fan of the Portuguese’s clever slip passes between the lines and assertive through-balls in behind.

In a 2-0 win against Paco de Ferreira in January, Dias picked up possession in the opposition half before drilling a pass through the defence to Rafa Silva, who swivelled and scored the opener.

Dias did something similar against Desportivo Aves, playing an incisive through-ball that set the right-back away in the penalty area.

Wrestling control of the ball

Dias is a composed defender primarily because he is so strong, meaning he tends to shove players off the ball without needing to go to ground. That is just what Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones lack – the ability to wrestle players off the ball and keep possession for the side.

A prime example came in August against Paco de Ferreira. Where most defenders would have made a slide tackle, Dias used his powerful upper body to shrug the forward aside, turn, and come away with the ball.

Confident slide tackles

Playing for Man City, who leave a lot of space behind their high defensive line, requires an unusual talent for making recovery tackles. Numerous times this season Dias has sprinted back to make a well-timed slide tackle and stamp out the danger.

One example comes from a European Championship qualifier for Portugal against Luxembourg, when Dias ran across to cover for his left-back, sliding effectively to put the ball out for a throw-in.