Record-breaking Premier League title winner signs for Bolivian side

Former Manchester City centre-back Eliaquim Mangala has moved to Bolivian side Oriente Petrolero, 12 years after his record-breaking move to the Etihad Stadium.

City secured the services of Mangala in 2014 for a reported initial outlay of £31.8m from Portuguese side FC Porto.

However, that figure was actually closer to £42m due to spiralling costs surrounding the centre-back’s split ownership, which at the time was a British record fee for a defender.

Mangala, who received a 2017-18 Premier League winner’s medal despite spending the second half of the season on loan at Everton, endured a mixed spell with the Cityzens.

The France international departed City permanently for Valencia in 2019, and then secured a switch to French side Saint-Etienne in 2021.

And he returned to Portugal with Estoril in 2023, but was released at the end of last season.

All aboard the Oriente express!

The 34-year-old has since moved to the Bolivian side, who finished 12th in the FBF Division Profesional last season having picked up 33 points and conceded 58 goals as they won just nine games.

It was a disappointing season for the Albiverdes as they missed out on both Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana qualification.

Oriente Petrolero have won the Bolivian championship five times in their history, last doing so in 2010.

The South American side recently appointed David Gonzalez as head coach ahead of the 2026 season.

Gonzalez replaces Victor Hugo Andrada, the Argentine having left his role last year.

Mangala’s ‘important challenge’

On his move to Bolivia, Mangala said: “This is an important challenge in my career. I have joined a big club with a lot of history.

Oriente Petrolero | Instagram

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“I know I’ve not had the best of seasons recently, but I want to turn the tide this year.

“People tell me that Oriente have a very strong fan base, and that the city lives for football.

“That was key for me, and I hope to achieve my aims with the support of the fans.”

Mangala, who has been capped eight times for Les Bleus, also won the Belgian First Division and the Primeira Liga – twice – during respective stints with Standard Liege and Porto.

He’ll hope to add to that haul for Oriente Petrolero when the 2026 season gets underway.

While no start date for the campaign has been confirmed, the 2025 season kicked off in late March last year, and the expectation is that the 2026 edition will follow suit.