When a club pays £100million for a footballer, the fans have the right to expect an all-singing, all-dancing player who wins you matches and shines brightly, even amidst a galaxy of stars. Look down the short list of players who cost nine figures, and they almost all have that special quality that sets them aside - Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Joao Felix, Antoine Griezmann - players who are the jewels in the crown of their respective teams.
The only exception perhaps is Philippe Coutinho, who looked the part at Liverpool but failed to justify his £105m price tag after joining Barcelona - although the way he has revived Aston Villa after Jack Grealish ’s departure suggests he is recovering his mojo. Grealish joined the ranks of the nine-figure men in the summer when City activated his transfer release clause by splashing out £100m.
Within weeks, there were grumbles. Outsiders sagely pointed out that City should have saved their money and splurged it on Harry Kane - treating the two transfers as an either/or situation when, in fact, City were pursuing both players. Fans wondered whether the Blues actually needed another touchline-hugging ball-player, already being blessed with Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling - both ahead of Grealish in the England pecking order - Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus.
