The transfer rumour that ran all summer - and very nearly up to the final hours of the transfer window - finally became reality yesterday when Kevin De Bruyne became a City player.
Media City lives on, of course, though this particular transfer has given us and the rest of the nation’s back pages plenty of column inches. And we'll kind of miss the demands on our official Twitter account to 'announce De Bruyne!'
It’s only fitting, then, to include some of the reaction to yesterday’s news with Fox Sports running an excellent overview of how De Bruyne’s time at Chelsea became difficult the moment Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.
In a well-researched article, Nick Wright reports: “Critics may question the strength of opposition in the Bundesliga, but De Bruyne has done it in the big games too. Just ask Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old dismantled Pep Guardiola’s side with a brilliant individual display in January, scoring twice and setting up another as Wolfsburg claimed a memorable 4-1 victory.
‘We lost the order in our attacks,’ said Bastian Schweinsteiger after the game. ‘We can’t do that against a team so strong on the counter with players like De Bruyne.’
“His importance is not lost on Wolfsburg, either. ‘Kevin is surely one of the best players Wolfsburg have ever had,’ said defender Marcel Schäfer. ‘I would prefer to keep him, not to get the money,’ added director of sport Klaus Allofs.
“The Belgian tormented Bayern again in the German Super Cup last month, laying on the assist for Nicklas Bendtner’s late equaliser and scoring from the penalty spot in the shootout as Wolfsburg denied Guardiola’s men another piece of silverware.
“So where will De Bruyne fit in at the Etihad? Pellegrini appears to have struck upon a winning formula this season, with three consecutive victories putting them five points clear of champions Chelsea at the top of the table. In a 4-2-3-1 system, Raheem Sterling and Jesus Navas have operated either side of the irrepressible David Silva, with Sergio Aguero spearheading the attack.
Well worth reading in full.
Stuart Brennan in the Manchester Evening News claims City’s new No.17 turned down big-money moves to two of Europe’s top clubs to ensure he joined the Blues.
He writes: “Kevin de Bruyne refused moves to Bayern Munich and Paris St Germain in order to join City.
“The Blues tied up a £54.5million deal for the Belgium international, and his skipper – now for club and country – Vincent Kompany tipped the former Wolfsburg man to be a big hit at the Etihad.
“And after the signing, it emerged just how far City and their football director Txiki Begiristain had gone in order to secure the Bundesliga player of the year.
“It also became clear that de Bruyne had his eyes on a return to the Premier League – and City in particular, all the way through the protracted summer saga.
“The Blues first inquired about de Bruyne before the end of last season, but Wolfsburg came up with a flat refusal, saying the player was not for sale. That was no transfer tactic – they felt he was vital if they were to close the gap on champions Bayern.
“Bayern were interested in de Bruyne but were asked by Volkswagen – who own their main sponsors Audi – not to bid, so they pulled out.
“City and PSG both made initial offers, and Wolfsburg, in response, offered to double de Bruyne's salary if he would stay for another season.
“When de Bruyne refused that, it was clear he was intent on leaving – so Wolfsburg tried to drag Bayern back into the race.”
Switching to the Champions League, Juventus legend Gianluigi Buffon says City need to win Europe’s biggest prize to be considered a ‘big club’.
Quoted in the Mirror, Buffon said: ‘Even when Juventus were in Serie B, they were still Juventus. Even in the time when they were not winning trophies, Real Madrid are always Real Madrid, and Manchester United are always Manchester United.
‘With all they have spent, Manchester City will want to be thought of in that way, and they only way to achieve that is success in Europe.
Raheem Sterling’s move to City was initially criticised in some quarters, but the way the young England star has hit the ground running with the Blues has turned the tide of negativity.
Mike Whalley, writing in The Telegraph reports: "Sterling has rediscovered the form that deserted him during his final months on Merseyside; a busy performance against Watford was rewarded with his first competitive goal for a City side who top the Premier League with a 100 per cent record. His pace and quick thinking created problems even as his team-mates laboured against awkward opposition during a difficult first half.
“He did not want to talk about it afterwards, though; finding a route out of the Etihad Stadium that avoided any reporters who might have stopped him for a few questions. At the moment, the 20-year-old is one step ahead in every sense.”
We’ll return tomorrow to stoke the dying embers of the transfer window which closes at 6pm, though the Blues’ business – with recent events in mind – has, you’d imagine, largely been done.
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