The Manchester United supporters have been poking fun at Manchester City in the Transfer Tavern in recent days to the astronomical price-tag of their latest defensive acquisition.
Manchester City completed the signing of Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Bilbao earlier today in a club-record deal for a defender worth £57 million. The 23-year-old centre-back arrives at the club from La Liga with a big reputation to live up to, and The Citizens faithful are certainly hoping that he can exceed his potential under Guardiola’s leadership in Manchester.
Laporte’s transfer once again shows that City are making huge strides towards building a solid defensive unit for the future. Since arriving at the club, Guardiola has lured Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, John Stones and now Aymeric Laporte to City for fees in the region of £50 million and above.
Considering the ages of the aforementioned players, it’s clear that City are hoping their new look defensive unit can act as the foundation for the clubs success in the years to come. The City fans are naturally delighted with their new signing, but their local-rivals believe they may have overspent on their latest acquisition.
During the last few days, the United supporters have taken to Twitter to taunt City for paying such a huge sum of money for Laporte, and the Red Devils have pointed to the fact he is yet to be capped for the French national side as a strong indicator of his true ability.
Whether Laporte’s performances will match the enormity of his price-tag remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt that plenty of the United supporters are both expecting and hoping for him to flop at the Etihad Stadium.
And the fans were also eager to criticise the British media for failing to criticise City’s total expenditure in recent years, particularly since Guardiola took charge at the club.
Here’s what the United fans had to say about Laporte’s transfer on Twitter…
Nearly 24 and has wait for it…..zero French caps
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) January 27, 2018
I guess not a word is said on Laporte's fee & wages. Just because it's not #mufc.
— Thomas Sporsheim (@ThomasSporsheim) January 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/foyer29/status/957193209339432960
Absolute legend @markgoldbridge mate! Sit down city. #IGotYourBack
— Cpt_Hotsauce (@Cpthotsauce) January 28, 2018
Have the Laporte > Bailly naive stuff started yet? If not, brace for all the stupidity #MUFC fans….
— Sajiv (@sajivshah7) January 30, 2018
So £65 million for Laporte from City but they couldn’t afford Sanchez… I’m so confused by that. Not gunna complain tho I know who I’d rather have. #mufc
— Ollie Wakefield (@Ojw2303) January 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/amanbihal/status/958044801483640833
Laporte ain't that good. He is average and will get exposed liked liverpols 75 million guy.
— Mr Alize/Top Notch Coach (@alizeph) January 29, 2018
Laporte for those who watch La Liga is genuinely no better than Jonny Evans
63 million
Sit down City!
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) January 27, 2018
