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On 29th September 2020 Man City announced the signing of centre back Ruben Dias from Benfica for just over £61m, the second largest fee in their history. The 23 year old defender was walking into a club recovering from a chastening 2019/20 season that had seen them finish 18 points behind Liverpool and once again exit the Champions League at the quarter final stage.
Having conceded 35 League goals that campaign, the most since Guardiola’s first in the Premier League, and already been thrashed 5-2 by Leicester City at the Etihad, all eyes were on Dias. It’s fair to say there was a certain amount of skepticism. After all he’d never played outside of Portugal or progressed past the Champions League groups, leaving plenty of people wondering whether he was the man to solidify a shaky defence and become Kompany’s long term heir. Jamie Carragher went as far to say that if it didn’t work out it could be “the end of the Pep project.”
Under 8 months later, Man City are Premier League and Carabao Cup Champions, with a debut Champions League final to look forward to in a matter of hours. A series of magnificent defensive displays ensure that Ruben Dias, recently named Football Writers Men's Player Of The Year, is the favourite for PFA Player Of The Year too.
Today on FD Explained we want to analyze the rise of Ruben Dias. Who is he, what makes him so special and what does the future hold for him? Let’s get started...
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By Football Daily
May 29, 2021
