Birmingham's Christian Benitez deal could be a 'Dugarry', says Mooney

Jun 6 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Mail

EX-BLUES striker Tommy Mooney has described the club’s record-breaking signing of Christian Benitez as a throwback to the arrival of Christophe Dugarry in 2003.

The early summer swoop for Benitez has already got fans talking ahead of the new season, with over two months still to go until the Premier League kicks-off.

The Ecuador striker has a long way to go to reach the legendary status that Dugarry acquired during his 31-game stint at Blues six years ago.

However the Blues board’s willingness to push the boat out financially to bag Benitez has reminded Mooney of the day Dugarry swept into St Andrew’s.

Mooney was at Blues, albeit on loan to Sheffield United, when Dugarry arrived in English football in January 2003 and he still holds the Frenchman in high regard.

Following promotion, Blues boss Alex McLeish spoke of signing an inspirational Dugarry-esque player for the forthcoming assault on the Premier League.

Mooney believes that board and manager will now be hoping that Benitez is that man.

“That (the Benitez deal) goes to show just how far the club have come, he’s not somebody I know about but if the board are prepared to give that money then they must have a lot of confidence in the player,” said Mooney, who played for Blues between June 2001 and July 2003.

“It’s a throwback to when the club signed Christophe Dugarry when I was at the club. They never paid a transfer fee for him but he was earning a lot more than the rest of the dressing room but if they are top players then you accept that.

“Dugarry was certainly the best player I played with, he knew what he was going to do with his fifth touch before he’d made his first and he was a nice guy to boot, He single-handedly kept us in the Premier League that season.