Two summers ago Man City bought German international Leroy Sané from Schalke in a massive deal.
The 20-year-old had just been selected for his nations Euro 2016 campaign, and was one of the brightest names in world football. But a fee of £37m, with add-ons will always attract attention from fans, and so it turned out to be.
While this move was welcomed by almost all Man City fans, there was a sneering mockery from their Mancunian rivals, and many others across England. Many Man United fans scoffed at the price the club paid for the midfielder, insisting that Anthony Martial was a superior player.
The fans also saw this as an oppotunity to take a swipe at the Man City fans after the promotional video, remarking on the number of empty seats in the stadium.
This is what the rival fans had to say:
https://twitter.com/KostyaDmitriev_/status/760409925373816833
What a poor signing! Typical City. Anyway, Paugba announcement soon. To United, of course.
— ManUtd Slovenia (@ManUtdSlovenia) 2 August 2016
WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY! poor mans martial
— Damian psaila (@PsailaDamian) 2 August 2016
Martial is better.
— Memphis (@BeLikeMemphis) 2 August 2016
look at all those empty seats
— Majorfut (@Majorfutbalista) 2 August 2016
Martial who?
— supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (@X_Tsh) 2 August 2016
Meanwhile, Man City fans were rather happy with the news:
finally at last!! #WelcomeLeroy have feeling he will be a major player for City in the coming years.
— Oli MCFC (@OliCtid) 2 August 2016
future balon dor winner and world champion!!
— Brian Henning (@brnhnnng) 2 August 2016
really a good buy, most of the youngsters have talent and potential,but this lad has composure,
great adition to the premier league— SaMi.aLam (@Samialam753Sa) 2 August 2016
Two years later, and those jeering Man United fans have a lot less to laugh about.
The German winger was sensational last season in a record breaking campaign for The Blues. The 22-year-old scored 10 goals, and racked up an astonishing 15 assists as Pep Guardiola’s men ran away with the Premier League.
The cherry on the cake was being awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
It seems much less likely that those fans will be laughing at the clubs signing now.
