At least the ‘Ginger Pele’ lives up to his nickname
AS far as nicknames go, it is up there with the best. Such is the esteem some hold Kevin De Bruyne in Belgium, they have christened him the ‘Ginger Pele’.
Given how much Manchester City paid for him this summer, smashing their transfer record to bring him from Wolfsburg, it is fair to say they regard him in a similar bracket to Brazil’s best.
A £52million price tag ensures great expectations and last night the Etihad Stadium had its first glimpse of De Bruyne. It was always going to be an important night for the 24-year-old jettisoned from Stamford Bridge by Jose Mourinho 18 months ago. It was his home debut in front of bumper crowd and a live TV audience, but it became more significant just before kick-off.
An injury to David Silva robbed City of their creative spark, so having prepared himself to raid from the right, he was thrust on to centre stage with task of preserving the impeccable start his side have made to the domestic campaign.
He was never going to be able to do things quietly. Sporting a pair of pink boots to go with his distinctive hair, the eye was drawn to De Bruyne from the moment he emerged, his name being greeted by a huge roar when it was announced.
Soon, though, the boots and the hair had no relevance. Spectators’ attention was drawn to De Bruyne because of what he was doing on the pitch; the man who enjoyed 28 assists in th last season began to show why City were prepared to invest so heavily.
Much of what was going on around him was ordinary Raheem Sterling, Jesus Navas and Fernandinho were poor — but that could not be levelled at the elegant newcomer.
He was always looking to put West Ham on the back foot. His control was imperious andhe never took
more than two touches: get it, give it, move. It is a simple rule but it was exciting to watch and the only conclusion to be drawn was that De Bruyne is a proper footballer.
If anyone was going to score for City, De Bruyne looked the most likely and so it proved late in the first-half when he fizzed in a drive that never left the ground before speeding past the despairing drive of Adrian.
Manuel Pellegrini could have done with more of his team to perform like him. The first £50m-plus footballer to arrive in Manchester did so to a fanfare but, after an exciting start, Angel Di Maria fizzled out depressingly and was moved on within 12 months by neighbours United. The prospects of the latest £50m-plus man appear considerably better.
Perhaps that nickname will not prove to be so outlandish after all.