Romelu Lukaku will prove he is worth £90m at Man Utd, says Kevin De Bruyne
Romelu Lukaku will make a mockery of the critics questioning his £90 million transfer fee and guarantee 25 goals for Manchester United next season, according to his Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.
Lukaku scored a stunning second goal in three games for United in an impressive 2-0 victory over derby rivals Manchester City in Houston on Friday, when he left City's new goalkeeper Ederson Moraes red faced.
Beating Ederson to the ball just outside the penalty area after the City No 1 had inexplicably rushed out to try to clear the ball, Lukaku was forced wide but finished brilliantly from a tight angle to put United in front before Marcus Rashford added a second two minutes later.
Lukaku and Rashford have hit it off quickly as United manager Jose Mourinho prepares to employ a two-pronged strike-force next season.
And City midfielder De Bruyne, fresh from watching his compatriot steal the show in Houston, believes Lukaku will show why United agreed to pay Everton an initial £75 million rising to a potential £90 million world record fee for the Belgian.
"I think he will do very well," De Bruyne said. "Everyone knows what his qualities are and he will do what he has to do. There's a lot said about these big transfers, people mock him and other players on social media. You know it's there but you just can't care about that.
"You just have to do your job and I think he will score 20 to 25 goals for United a season and that will speak for itself.
"If you see his ratio of goals, it's incredible. He's one of the best in the world and what is he, 24? You can say that about him at that age.
"Obviously he has his way of playing. Don't compare him to a Messi dribbling past players. He's a big physical guy and can be awesome."
United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward met up with Mourinho in Los Angeles on Friday for the first time as the club step up their efforts in the transfer market.
United have so far encountered frustration in their pursuit of targets such as Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic and midfielders Eric Dier, Nemanja Matic and Radja Nainggolan, but despite Mourinho's claims he would settle for one more addition, the club are still expected to make at least two more signings and could yet spring a surprise in the transfer market.
