Garth Crooks has heaped praise on Manchester City defender Ruben Dias for his performance in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal, naming him in his BBC Sport Team of the Week.
The centre-back signed for the Citizens in September for a fee in the region of £65 million and has proved to be a revelation.
Dias was once again solid as a rock against the Gunners, with City claiming victory thanks to a Raheem Sterling goal in the opening two minutes.
Crooks was desperately impressed and backed the 23-year-old to enjoy plenty of years playing at the top level.
He told BBC Sport: “At this rate, Ruben Dias will play the game until he is 47.
“The Portugal international is about to win the Premier League title without so much as a scratch and that can’t be right.
“Is somebody going to make it uncomfortable for City? What is the English game coming to?”
Dias has made 30 first-team appearances since arriving at the Etihad Stadium and is looking very composed.
City have won 13 Premier League games in succession and look to be sailing to the title at a canter.
TBR View: Have City found an heir to Vincent Kompany’s throne?
It certainly looks that way and everything about Dias oozes class in the same way it did when the City legend was concerned.
The transfer fee when he checked in from Benfica raised a few eyebrows but ultimately he’s been fantastic since checking in.
Playing on until 47 might be a stretch but it’s easy to see why Crooks would make such a comment.
Nobody seems capable of laying a glove on City at the moment and this could be their easiest Premier League title victory ever.
City’s defence looks far better with Dias in it and the £115,000-a-week star looks like one of the best pieces of business the club has done in many years,