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Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala has revealed an accident that paralysed his brother helped spur him on to reach the top of the game. Mangala, who was part of France's 2014 World Cup squad, joined City from Porto this summer in a big-money move. The 23-year-old was born just outside Paris, but moved to Belgium with his family at the age of five in 1996 in order for his brother, Daniel, to receive specialist treatment following an accident that has left him confined to a wheelchair ever since. "I have to live with the fact my brother was paralysed. He used to be a keen footballer before his accident. Whenever I play a match, I play for him as well as myself. My motivation has been increased tenfold," Mangala told Aujourd'hui en France in quotes picked up by The Sun. "I want to go as far as I can in football for the sake of my brother, who has not had the opportunity to do so himself. I represent my family when I am out on the field. I give everything, and never short-change anyone. "I have always behaved humbly, as you never know what tomorrow might bring. I am on an upward spiral but everything could be turned on its head, for instance, by a serious injury. "The ordeal of my brother has made me mature as a person. Your life can change dramatically overnight. I feel a responsibility to play well for both my sake and his." After easing into life at the Etihad Stadium, Mangala has started his new side's last three Premier League games, and City fans are already seeing why their club was willing to pay so much for the former Standard Liege centre-back. The Premier League champions have never formally announced how much they spent on the player, but reports have suggested a fee of 42.9 million pounds exchanged hands, which would be enough to make Mangala the world's most expensive defender. "I feel proud to be the most expensive defender in history but the price tag brings about big expectations. I signed a five-year contract and it is down to me to show that Manchester City made a good choice," said Mangala, who opted to play for France over Belgium. "I grew up in Belgium but I have always felt strongly French. I used to watch Les Bleus on TV and then dreamt of playing for them some day. I dream about playing at the Euro 2016 finals. I want to add trophies to my CV, and it's this ambition that drives me on each day when I set out for training."
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