After the tentative offer for Tang Long was met with a frenzied counterattack from Manchester City, and the duck that was already in their mouth was instead snatched away by Ranocchia, Manchester United did not feel disheartened. Instead, they set their sights on another rising passing maestro in European football, De Bruyne!
51 matches, 16 goals, 27 assists, such impressive double-double stats were the beautiful answer sheet De Bruyne delivered in the Bundesliga last season with Wolfsburg.
Through in-depth discussions with the coaching staff and Manchester United management, Van Gaal analyzed that although De Bruyne's assists per unit efficiency weren't as high as Tang Long's, he scored more goals. In terms of overall attack efficiency, he might even be superior to Tang Long!
If failing to reunite the former Inter Milan super duo, Tang Long and Icardi at Manchester United was a regret, then successfully landing De Bruyne would eliminate that regret.
