Paul Merson admits he made a blunder by writing £54m star off when he joined Man City

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Published on 2024-02-07 20:30:00

Former Arsenal and Aston Villa midfielder, Paul Merson, recently admitted that he was wrong to question Manchester City’s decision to spend a significant amount of money to sign Kevin De Bruyne.

Merson’s remarks came in 2015 when he expressed skepticism about whether Jose Mourinho made a mistake by allowing De Bruyne to leave Chelsea.

He stated that, based on De Bruyne’s time at Chelsea, he did not believe he was worth the £54 million that City paid for him.

However, Merson has since recanted his previous point of view and acknowledged that De Bruyne has significantly exceeded his expectations.

Contrary to his initial doubts about De Bruyne’s worth, Merson now considers himself to be one of De Bruyne’s biggest fans.

“I thought when they paid that money, I famously said on Sky that he’s not worth it. I had seen at Chelsea and I thought, ‘No, that’s a lot of money.’ But he’s proven me wrong over the years, 100 per cent”, he said on Football’s Greatest With Jeff Stelling.

“I’m one of his biggest fans now.”

He has recognized De Bruyne’s exceptional talent and ability to prove himself at one of the top clubs in the Premier League.

Merson pointed out that his negative perception of De Bruyne, based on his time at Chelsea, was quickly overturned by De Bruyne’s impressive and consistent performances for Manchester City.

“Jeff, it wasn’t a lazy, off-the-cuff quote, I had seen him enough times at Chelsea, I’d seen him and it didn’t work out for him at Chelsea. It just didn’t work out. Again, times and places, it wasn’t the right time for him and that’s why I said what I said. But wow, what a player.”

Merson’s change of heart regarding De Bruyne’s ability reflects a pattern in football history where great players ultimately prove their doubters wrong.

Merson likened De Bruyne’s reversal of fortune to that of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who, despite facing doubts and criticism early in his career, went on to establish himself as one of the all-time football greats.

In conclusion, Merson’s admission that he was wrong in questioning De Bruyne’s worth is a testament to De Bruyne’s exceptional skill and impact.

Despite initial doubts about his talent and value, De Bruyne has silenced his critics and established a remarkable reputation as one of the top players in the world.

The parallels drawn between De Bruyne and other great players who have defied skepticism demonstrate the unpredictable and compelling nature of football.

Read Original article on Manchester City News