{"id":1098919,"date":"2019-07-25T13:38:46","date_gmt":"2019-07-25T12:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1098919"},"modified":"2019-07-28T11:26:21","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T10:26:21","slug":"major-signings-debuts-rated-griezmann","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/major-signings-debuts-rated-griezmann\/","title":{"rendered":"Griezmann, Wan-Bissaka & De Ligt: Major signings’ pre-season debuts rated"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s pre-season and, with that, comes the perfect opportunity to see whether your club’s marquee signing or superstar new boy has what it takes to excel in 2019\/20.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As is customary every summer, there have been a number of major ins and outs across the continent, with most managers working overtime to bolster their ranks, remedy voids and plug gaps.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7317342-rodgers-has-helped-tick-the-boxes-for-maguire-s-manchester-move<\/p>\n

Some clubs have been more active than others in this precarious period, but every major side from Europe’s traditional ‘ big five’ has acquired at least one new signature, including Chelsea, who are currently enduring a transfer embargo, and Spurs, last season’s prodigious penny-pinchers.<\/p>\n

With that considered, how have the latest recruits fared so far in this chapter of friendly-match festivities? Some have impressed, while others have provoked early concerns.<\/p>\n

And so, who are the major signings to have flourished on their debut matches, and who are the ones to have already enticed an early sense of unease?<\/p>\n

Rodri (Manchester City)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Fee: <\/strong>\u00a362.6m<\/p>\n

Signed from:\u00a0<\/strong>Atletico Madrid<\/p>\n

Debut match: <\/strong>Man City 4-1 West Ham (Premier League Asia Trophy)<\/p>\n

Rodri was presented his first opportunity to showcase the deep-lying,\u00a0Sergio Busquets role Pep Guardiola will be expecting of him next season against the perfect opposition: a full-strength Premier League side.<\/p>\n

The Hammers opted to send out a\u00a0fully fledged XI against last term’s treble-winning\u00a0juggernaut, and Rodri \u2013 who played 69 minutes \u2013 looked comfortable, composed and elegant in front of the back four.<\/p>\n

It wasn’t the showstopping performance you might expect from a record signing but the Spaniard wasn’t brought in to attempt anything too extravagant on the pitch. Instead, he operated as a cool, sophisticated axis at the base of a midfield trident and this calming presence will be key to striking a balance in Guardiola’s full-throttle system next season.<\/p>\n

Verdict:<\/strong> Hit<\/p>\n

Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Fee: <\/strong>\u00a345m<\/p>\n

Signed from:\u00a0<\/strong>Crystal Palace<\/p>\n

Debut match: <\/strong>Man Utd 2-0 Perth Glory (friendly match)<\/p>\n

Introduced at half-time at the\u00a0Optus Stadium against Perth Glory, Man Utd fans were given a very transparent insight into what they can expect from their latest recruit, Aaron Wan-Bissaka: dogged defending and tackling mastery.<\/p>\n

Last season, the Londoner\u00a0made more tackles (129) than any other Premier League defender, with only\u00a0nine individuals managing to dribble past him, and that form was transmitted to the\u00a0capital of Western Australia as he finished the match with a 100 per cent tackle ratio, leading to early rave reviews.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Scott McTominay has already spoken of his amazement in the 21-year-old’s\u00a0\u201cabsolutely ridiculous\u201d yet \u201ccontrolled\u201d tackling ability<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Verdict:<\/strong> Hit<\/p>\n

Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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READ MORE:<\/span> Juventus 2-3 Spurs: Five things learned as Kane spoils Sarri\u2019s debut<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Fee:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a367.8m<\/p>\n

Signed from:\u00a0<\/strong>Ajax<\/p>\n

Debut match: <\/strong>Juve 2-3 Spurs (International Champions Cup)<\/p>\n

Introduced in the 63rd for his much-anticipated debut against Spurs, after a transfer saga that lasted far longer than anything we would have hoped, Matthijs de Ligt was immediately made to relive a Champions League nightmare, as that man Lucas Moura netted just two minutes after the teenager entered the fray, inflicting another devastating blow on his nascent career.<\/p>\n

And it didn’t get much better from there for the\u00a0Ajacied graduate as Harry Kane went on to score a quite outrageous goal from the halfway line. At least he was able to make amends just 10 minutes into his debut start against Inter Milan…<\/p>\n

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Matthijs de Ligt has scored an own goal for Juventus in his first start for the club.<\/p>\n

Inter lead Juventus 1-0 in the International Champions Cup. pic.twitter.com\/ZPQS80OjrZ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Play Squawka Selector for Free (@Squawka_Live) July 24, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n