Kevin De Bruyne: Man City star was questioned by Sky Sports pundits when he signed in 2015

Kevin De Bruyne signed for Manchester City exactly seven years ago for a then-club record £55 million from Wolfsburg.

It was the second highest paid by a British club after Manchester United’s £59.7m signing of Angel Di Maria.

In the seven years that have passed, it’s proven to be an absolute bargain as De Bruyne has gone on to become one of the best players in world football, helping City to multiple trophies.

It seems crazy now that anyone would question that transfer fee considering what the Belgian has gone on to achieve in the game.

But cast your mind back to 2015 and De Bruyne was considered an expensive mistake.

English football fans remembered him from a failed spell at Chelsea earlier in his career where he started only five games – two in the Premier League and three in the League Cup – and was shipped out on loan to Genk and Werder Bremen.

Mourinho was more than happy to sell his permanently after just two years.

Therefore, Man City’s decision to sign him was met with a back page cover by the Mirror that read: ‘The £60m reject‘ before he’d even kicked a ball for the club.

It wasn’t a one-off opinion either.

The signing was discussed by pundits – namely Phil Thompson and Paul Merson – on Soccer Saturday.

And the pair didn’t hold back what they thought of Man City splashing the cash on De Bruyne.

“The world is going mad,” Thompson began. “The amount of money they’re paying for this boy is just absolutely bonkers! He’s a good player, but is he a great player?”

Paul Merson was asked by Jeff Stelling if Jose Mourinho made a mistake by selling him for £18 million.

Merson replied: “I don’t think he got loads of chances, but he didn’t look part of the Chelsea way at the time. I think it was right for him to go. If