Hal Robson-Kanu’s Cruyff turn at last year’s Euros is the only highlight involving Jason Denayer that most fans are familiar with.
The 21-year old Belgian was one of the three players baffled by the Welshman’s skill and game-winning goal that sent the Stade Pierre-Mauroy and most of the world into hysteria.
That game was the beginning of what turned out to be an extremely difficult year for the centre-back. After spending this season on loan with rock-bottom Sunderland, Denayer approaches a summer of complete uncertainty. But his career should be going differently.
The Manchester City defender first broke into the senior Belgium squad in March 2015 on the back of a dominating season on loan at Celtic and now has eight senior caps to his name.
Denayer helped the Hoops to a league and cup double while being named as the Scottish Young Player of the Year, as well as in the SPL’s Team of the Year. He scored six goals, including one on his debut, and took a blossoming reputation back to Manchester.
He was expected to play a part in the City first-team in the 2015/16 season and was officially promoted from the club’s academy by Manuel Pellegrini. He made the bench in two of City’s first three league games but was sent on loan to Galatasaray when Nicolas Otamendi arrived from Valencia.
Like many academy players before him, City fans believed Denayer was good enough to play a serious role with the first team, only to be pushed back by an expensive import. After spending this past season with Sunderland, it appears that Denayer’s City career is over before it ever truly gets started, even though he could definitely play a role for Pep Guardiola.
The 21-year old cannot be blamed for the total ineptitude of David Moyes and the rest of the Sunderland squad. A young centre-back needs an experienced and reliable partner to keep them focused and to provide some security, because all young players make mistakes.
The Belgium international’s main partner during his breakout season in Scotland was Virgil van Dijk, now being touted as a potential £50m move to Liverpool from Southampton, while the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea have all showed an interest in the Dutchman.
Imagine how good Denayer could be playing alongside countryman Vincent Kompany and not Papy Djilobodji or John O’Shea. When Kompany returned to the City squad in the final stages of this season, his presence did wonders for partners John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, as a typically leaky City defence conceded only six goals in eight league games.
While the key in this hypothetical is that Kompany stays healthy, it will probably become a moot point when Pep either loans Denayer out again or sells him. The defensive overall that is coming at the Etihad would become far less expensive if the Spaniard would look at players already on the books.
A young player with Denayer’s professional and international experience should be peaking Pep’s interest. Instead, Sunderland’s horrific season might become a permanent stain on Denayer’s CV that sends another academy player away far too soon.
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