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Damien Delaney: 'Christian Benteke is no Lionel Messi'

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney attempts to play down expectations of new signing Christian Benteke by saying that the Eagles "haven't signed Lionel Messi".

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney has suggested that striker Christian Benteke will not score goals for the Eagles unless his teammates provide him with the service.

On Saturday, Palace announced that Benteke had signed a four-year deal at Selhurst Park but despite the outfit paying a club-record fee for the Belgian international, Delaney has said that supporters should not expect too much from their new signing.

The 35-year-old told the Evening Standard: "We're not signing [Lionel] Messi, he's a good player but he's not a player who is going to get the ball and make things happen.

"He brings a presence, he's a handful, but Connor Wickham is as well. It's time we stop talking about things and go and win games."

Benteke could make his Palace debut when they host Blackpool in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.

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Damien Delaney of Palace looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal on August 16, 2015
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