Man City starlet Doku snubbed Liverpool transfer after agreement with parents
Jeremy Doku used to prioritise perfecting his goal celebrations over defending - Pep Guardiola may argue not much has changed.
As RB Leipzig chased a late equaliser in stoppage time during their 3-1 Champions League defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night, Doku refused to track marker Mohamed Simakan as the full-back bombarded forward at speed.
It was a gamble that fortunately paid dividends for the 21-year-old Belgian as Leipzig's attack swiftly broke down, leaving Doku with acres of space to penetrate on the break. Julian Alvarez's slick through ball was confidently controlled and dispatched by City's £55.5million summer signing, who promptly flaunted his rendition of 'The Griddy' - a viral celebratory TikTok-inspired dance that has exploded in the NFL.
Now Doku is rivalling Jack Grealish for a starting berth in Manchester City's attack ahead of Sunday's crunch title showdown with Arsenal at the Emirates. While he has undeniably matured to force his way into reckoning at the greatest side in club football, equally, Doku is still the same fresh-faced kid that dazzled in Brussels within Anderlecht's academy ranks.
Just ask his former coach Jonas De Roeck, now managing Westerlo, who declared: "What has always stuck with me is that Jeremy is a great kid. He's always smiling and wants to have fun in training but at the same time, he wants to win.
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"I really loved working with him - he was always keeping himself busy by deciding how to celebrate his goals but despite that, he was very humble. I liked it a lot." De Roeck, who later worked as Vincent Kompany's assistant at Anderlecht claims Doku had virtually zero responsibility to defend in his under-19 side that also featured Arsenal duo Albert Sambi Lokonga (on loan at Luton) and Jakub Kiwior.
"Even as a young player, the difference Jeremy made was unbelievable," De Roeck continued. "He practically didn't have to defend but he had the same qualities that he has now - the speed in the first few metres of his dribbling was incredible. He's now at the biggest team in the world in Manchester City. Some were surprised but we were not - we always knew he had the potential to be a superstar."
Jeremy Doku netted in Man City's 3-1 win at RB LeipzigIt's well documented that Doku snubbed a dream transfer to Liverpool as a teenager to prioritise his education and playing time at Anderlecht - a life-changing call that undoubtedly shaped the foundations for his explosive start to life at Manchester City.
De Roeck added: "I remember that time well. There was strong interest from Liverpool but what helped Jeremy is he came from a good home. Jeremy and his family wanted to ensure he finished school - his parents knew what was required to succeed in life.
"They kept his feet firmly on the ground and even when he joined Stade Rennes - he could have signed for other clubs. That's what I love most about Jeremy's story - the next step was never forced or rushed."
Speedster Doku, who was also courted by West Ham and Chelsea this summer, looks set to provide City with an extra yard in their Premier League title defence after adding yet another dimension to Guardiola's treble-winning side.
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