DC United’s new club-record signing, Christian Benteke, must be up there as one of the most high-profile players in the MLS currently, along with fellow Designated Players Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Gonzalo Higuain and Xherdan Shaqiri.
What links all of them? Having played in the Premier League, the most competitive and prestigious in the world. And only 45 of the 4,535 players in the competition’s 30-year history have scored more than Benteke.
More goals there than Eden Hazard, Fernando Torres, Carlos Tevez, Eric Cantona, Luis Suarez, and a certain Mr. David Beckham, with one less than legendary Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.
So Benteke, signed from Crystal Palace, brings experience and real pedigree at the top level. But at 31, his best years are behind him and it’s not all been plain sailing at Palace, with several niggly injuries and years of low confidence and goal droughts.
With Benteke leaving the Eagles as third-choice striker, it is definitely a gamble for Wayne Rooney’s DC United, but with the side rock bottom of the MLS Eastern Conference, maybe it’s the right time to take a risk.
Sportsmail takes a look whether Benteke – who has signed a two-and-a-half year deal after being persuaded to join by Rooney – will be a success in the US capital and discusses whether he is the man to turn the Black-and-Reds’ season around.
Christian Benteke has reportedly touched down in Washington after signing for DC United
Benteke could not turn down the opportunity to sign for soccer legend Wayne Rooney (right)
The Belgian (above) will spearhead DC’s attack and look to use the creativity of Ravel Morrison – below, Sportsmail takes a look at whether the 31-year-old can turn the club’s season around
Career beginnings and an explosive start at Villa
Benteke, born in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved to Liege in Belgium with his family at the age of three to escape the brutal, corrupt Mobutu regime.
After successful loans at Kortrijk and Mechelen as a teenager, he returned to boyhood side Genk, where he caught the eye of several European sides after 16 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions in his first full season there.
Aston Villa were the team to take a punt on the unproven striker, snapping him up for $8.5million. He scored on his debut, a 2-0 win over Swansea, and by Christmas Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was calling him the ‘surprise package’ of the season.
That first year saw him score 23…