Big fee might hinder De Bruyne at City – Boateng

Kevin De Bruyne: Joined Manchester City for £54million

Kevin De Bruyne is being seen as “the messiah” by Manchester City fans who might find a player who will struggle to live up to “enormous pressure” of his £55million price tag, claims Jerome Boateng.

The Bundesliga’s Player of the Year De Bruyne joined City towards the end of the transfer window from Wolfsburg after a long-protracted chase, but Bayern Munich defender Boateng – himself a former Man City player – believes the 24-year-old Belgian might take time to settle into his new surroundings.

In quotes attributed to Kicker, Boateng said: “The transfer fee they paid for him brings enormous pressure with it.

“Manchester City have brought him in like he is the Messiah. They are expecting miracles from him.”

Boateng, who played for City for just a season in 2010/11 before joining Bayern for 13.5million euros, thinks former Chelsea player De Bruyne may also find the Premier League less suited to his game compared to the Bundesliga.

“Life in the Premier League is nothing like in the Bundesliga,” he added. “Referees don’t whistle for fouls as often and the game is a lot faster as a result.

“A lot of teams still play long balls, even if City themselves employ a different style.”

Boateng, however, doesn’t think the vast sums being spent in the Premier League is necessarily a bad thing for the Bundesliga.

“The transfer fees that are being paid are unbelievable, but that’s the way football has developed in recent years,” he explained. “I think only more money will be spent in the future.

“The good thing is that all the money from the Premier League finds its way to Germany, allowing clubs here to spend as well.”