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A right-back called Pablo brought from Barcelona who loves City, Manchester and defending, it's easy to make comparisons between young Maffeo and fan favourite Zabaleta.

So it's a good job the 18-year-old is not yet tired of them.

"No," he laughed. "For me, Zabaleta is the best.

"He's like my daddy here! He's nice to me, the first time I came here he came to speak to me.

"He speaks with me, asking about my family, if I am ok. I think he is the nicest man."

Maffeo has won plenty of support since moving to City from Espanyol two years ago, with his never-say-die approach at the back.

Appreciated on high within the club as a 'proper defender', the teenager has been regularly praised for his performances on social media and can count both Patrick Vieira and Manuel Pellegrini in his fan club.

The first team coach picked him to go on both summer tours, and was on hand to offer consolation when the defender picked up an injury against Melbourne City.

"He said to me, 'Don't worry, it's part of the game', said I could do nothing about it and just need to keep working'," said Maffeo.

"It was not disappointing because it's part of football but you think 'I'm there in the first team, I have a chance...and I get an injury.

"But it's ok. I need to keep working and I hope I get more chances in the future."

With a number of players filling in as makeshift right-backs on the tour, there is a good chance Maffeo would have featured more had he avoided injury.

Looking forward though, he is already back in training and on course to be fit for the start of the season - wherever he ends up playing.

"I prefer right-back," he told M.E.N Sport. "I feel comfortable at right-back because I have been playing all my life there. I have improved at centre-back.

"At centre-back you need more concentration and with the ball. I don't care if i need to play centre-back, but I prefer right-back."

More City news

City fans can give Maffeo a boost ahead of the new season if they vote him as EDS Player of the Year next week, although he wouldn't mind if fellow nominees Angus Gunn or the on-loan Angelino - who he keeps in touch with "every three or four days" - beat him to it.

"The good thing is Patrick chose me," he said. "Thank you to Patrick and to all the team.

"I tried to do the best every game. It's excellent when I play with Angus, and when I play with Angelino I feel comfortable as well.

"I just hope I can keep going, keep working and see how the season goes."

The EDS Player of the Year award will be announced on August 5 at City Live. You can still get tickets for the event HERE .