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Manchester City have secured the right to buy back promising young defender Karim Rekik after selling him to Olympique Marseille.

The French club beat Atletico Madrid and PSV Eindhoven in the race for the Dutch centre-back.

They landed Rekik, who spent last year on loan at PSV and made it to the fringes of Holland’s World Cup squad, for £3.5m.

But, despite their willingness to sell, City rate the 20-year-old highly and have demanded a buy-back option be written into the deal.

The Blues will also get a sell-on fee if he moves elsewhere.

Rekik enjoyed a successful 2014-15, helping PSV to the Dutch title.

They made the early running to claim his signature on a permanent basis this summer.

But Marseille’s concerted campaign to recruit the player clearly won Rekik over, despite interest from Atletico.

He said: “The way people talk about you is something that matters.

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“Football is everything for Marseille and I want to give them that by playing good matches and, I hope, by bringing trophies.

“I wanted to take the next step and PSV was not an option this year.

“I had a choice between Atletico Madrid and Marseille. OM contacted me first and told me that I was really wanted.”

Rekik’s departure leaves City’s centre-back department at four strong.

Jason Denayer, who has returned from loan at Celtic, is expected to step up to the senior squad, alongside Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Martin Demichelis as City set about reclaiming the Premier League title in the new season.