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Article: He's not Kaka, but De Jong can be City's driving force; Wheeler dealer: De Jong is a successful entrepreneur as well as a talented midfielder.
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- January 22, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: SIMON CASS
AS MANCHESTER City have found out to their cost this week, it is going to take more than money to persuade the cream of Europe's talent to buy into their big plans at Eastlands.
Obtaining Kaka's signature, despite the millions on offer, proved to be a bridge too far for City's powerbrokers. But few would have thought persuading a midfield ball-winning 'pitbull' to sign on the dotted line would have turned out to be almost as tough a selling job.
So it has transpired with Mark Hughes's most expensive acquisition of the transfer window thus far, [pounds sterling]15million Nigel de Jong. The 24-yearold midfielder is clearly ...