City have got their man. But probably not the one they really wanted
Now, look, we’re not saying Manchester City aren’t pleased to have secured the services of Ruben Dias from Benfica this week. After their disastrous display against Leicester City on Sunday, it was there for all to see why Pep Guardiola has been linked with defensive reinforcements all summer long.
Yes, Dias, we’re sure, will be a welcome addition at The Etihad. The thing is, though, it now seems more obvious than ever that the Portugal international probably wasn’t top of Pep’s wish-list…
There have been reports – lots of reports – linking City with a move for Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly since the end of last season. The Italian club weren’t for parting with the Senegal defender unless City were willing to meet a fee of somewhere around £90m – pretty steep for a player who turns 30 in the next year. Presumably priced out of that move, City have brought in Dias as a younger, cheaper alternative.
It does appear, however, that City were planning for Koulibaly’s arrival – if only in a small way. A widely circulated screen grab of City’s website, showing an article confirming Dias’ shirt number, features a hyperlink which invites supporters to ‘ask new signing Kalidou Koulibaly a question’.
Oops.
As is often the way with this sort of thing, the image was swiftly pinged around Twitter with BBC Sport presenter Will Perry amongst those to share it.
Something you’re not telling us #mcfc? @ManCity @kkoulibaly26 🤔 pic.twitter.com/NKlxGNxQCf
— 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 (@willperryTV) September 29, 2020
City looked certain to bolster their backline after losing their title to Liverpool last season. Before Dias, they had already added Nathan Ake to their ranks from relegated Bournemouth.
Ake scored his first goal for the club in Sunday’s 5-2 humbling by Leicester. City conceded three penalties in the game, two of them dispatched by Jamie Vardy as part of a hat-trick for the former England international.
