Edin Dzeko never did turn into Marco van Basten at Manchester City. That is what some predicted would happen when he joined from Wolfsburg for £27m in January 2011 having scored 66 goals in 111 appearances for the German club. Aged 24, he appeared to have the strength, speed and skill to become a world-class centre-forward. Van Basten’s image adorned Dzeko’s bedroom walls growing up in Sarajevo and, in the Bosnian’s own words, he was “very flattered” to be seen as a modern-day version of the Dutch legend upon his arrival.
As is often the case in football, however, the hype failed to match reality, and while Dzeko hardly bombed at City – he scored 72 goals across four-and-a-half seasons, helping the club win two Premier League titles – he failed to match the loftiest of expectations that surrounded him. He joined Roma on loan in August 2015 and it is telling that City were more than happy for the deal to become a long-term one within two months. In with a bang, out with a whimper.
Related: Radja Nainggolan strikes to give Roma the edge as Juventus's closest challengers
Continue reading...