Zabaleta sign new contracts with Manchester City

 　　LONDON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- England winger Adam Johnson and Argentina defender¹ Pablo Zabaleta have signed new contracts with Manchetser City, announced the Premier² League leaders on Friday.

　　Johnson, 24, penned a new four-year deal which will keep him at the Etihad Stadium until 2016 while the 26-year-old Zabaleta extended³ his stay until 2015.

　　"I want to become a top player, and I want to keep winning things and picking up medals," said Johnson who joined City from Middlesbrough last year.

　　"It's great being part of it - my game's improved, I'm playing for England and in the Champions League, that probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't come here," the midfielder added.

　　Zabaleta said he gave a quick answer without thinking twice because "I was so happy to sign".

　　City will host Newcastle on Saturday and they are five points ahead of defending champions Manchester United after 11 games.

1 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

2 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

3 extended   

adj.延伸的；伸展的；延长的；扩大的v.延伸(extend的过去式和过去分词)；伸展；延长

参考例句：

• an extended lunch hour 延长了的午餐时间
• France has greatly extended its influence in world affairs. 在世界事务中，法国的影响已大大地扩大了。 来自《简明英汉词典》