Last night, at the StubHub Center, MLS fans were introduced to the real Nigel de Jong.
The Dutch international joined LA Galaxy in January and has started all five of his new side's games so far this season.
In the 72nd minute of LA's 1-1 draw with Portland Timbers, de Jong affirmed himself as the player we know him to be when he put in a brutal tackle on Portland midfielder Darlington Nagbe.
It drew major criticism from fans.
At this rate, de Jong will kill all the #USMNT players in MLS before the next World Cup.
— Joseph Goodman, Sports Enthusiast 🎟🍺 (@JoeGoodmanJr) April 11, 2016
FCK DE JONG WOW
— Joshua Lewis (@realjoshlewis) April 11, 2016
Also true. DeJong can't keep just saying "My bad for maiming you." https://t.co/fzBMpIC7Lw
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) April 11, 2016
That "tackle" by De Jong, geez. Crude and dirty doesn't even begin to describe it.
— John Molinaro (@JohnMolinaro) April 11, 2016
Truly shocking x-rated tackle by Nigel De Jong on Darlington Nagbe. Should have been a clear red. Retrospective ban must surely follow.
— Gary Taphouse (@garytaphouse) April 11, 2016
How bad was De Jong's tackle? He's an MLS player and he's trending nationally on Twitter.
— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) April 11, 2016
The Liberian-born US international was forced to leave the pitch in a wheelchair.
Darlington Nagbe cannot put weight on his left ankle. Needs wheelchair off the pitch. #MLS pic.twitter.com/yKLxun06VU
— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) April 11, 2016
De Jong received just a yellow card for the tackle.
Sometimes you might hear a manager or player decry a tackle after a game. Portland went a step further than this. They called out Galaxy on their official Twitter account .
Hey @LAGalaxy, last year this acct justified a RC on Ridgewell w/a pic of a bruise. Any pithy commentary on De Jong? Are you even surprised?
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) April 11, 2016
Galaxy responded, asking if it was Timbers owner Merritt Paulson tweeting. Portland found no humour in the response and labeled de Jong as a 'dirty player'.
@LAGalaxy Sorry we don't find signing dirty players funny. But have at it.
— Portland Timbers (@TimbersFC) April 11, 2016
