With Congolese-Belgian striker Christian Benteke finally completing his move to Aston Villa, a new look team is taking shape across every position at the club. Villa have signed defenders, midfielders, and now a striker to refresh a team many had thought needed some rejuvenation.
Benteke, a player with a one in two ratio at the early age of 21, shows a lot of promise and Paul Lambert’s move for the players seems to confirm that he sees the tall striker as a key part of Villa’s future.
With the signing of Benteke, along with the earlier signing of young Jordan Bowery, Villa’s striking options, often seen as anaemic, have a lot more depth to them.
Few can suggest that Villa’s transfer deadline day has been boring and, as predicted, the club continue to look to press forward with deals. Panic, it would seem, may have been a tad premature.
Benteke said on joining:
It was motivation for me when I went to join up with the national team and saw all the players from the Premier League – Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen and Eden Hazard – it made me want to play here.
But the manager also convinced me this was the perfect move. Aston Villa are a very historic football club and my colleagues on international duty have said good things about the football here in England.
I am looking forward to getting my career started in the Premier League. I am a striker and I can play with my back to the goal. I can also play behind the striker and I am good in the air.
I know Darren Bent is a great striker and I want to play with him and work hard for the team.
I saw the game between Manchester City and Chelsea, the Community Shield, at Villa Park and I saw that it was a great stadium, so I am looking forward very much to playing here.
Next week I have to go to join up with my national team, so I will have to wait for another week before I can do that.
It was a special moment for me to score my first goal for the national team two weeks ago against the Netherlands and I hope that I can do this for Aston Villa many times.
I am happy to come here, it is my dream and I will work hard to do well here. I have realised one of my dreams by coming here but my dream now is to be successful here. It will be difficult because there are good international players here but this is my challenge and I look forward to playing with them.
Lambert added on making Benteke his eighth signing:
Christian is only 21 years of age but already he’s an established Belgian international and he’s had a terrific time at Genk. He’s something very different to what we have here and that added dimension will enhance the football club.
A young lad he may be, but he’s definitely a handful. He’s tall, powerful, he has pace and we’ll be stronger with him in the side.
We’re stronger now as a unit and we’re trying to build step by step. This is an important step. I believe in the players I have here that they can go and perform.
Want to join the conversation? Read the latest piece by Friday columnist Jason Chalifour on how Villa’s team won’t be built overnight via the following link – http://www.astonvillalife.com/aston-villa-blog/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day/
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