Departing Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has singled out a Liverpool hero as one of his toughest opponents as he gears up for his last outing under Pep Guardiola.
After a decade with the club, the Belgian will be leaving when his contract concludes this summer. With 421 appearances under his belt, the 33-year-old has bagged 108 goals and provided 177 assists. He’s also enjoyed a trophy-laden stint at City, boasting six Premier League titles, alongside a Champions League victory, five League Cups, and two FA Cups.
In anticipation of his farewell game at home against Bournemouth, De Bruyne engaged in an interview with Sky Sports. Quizzed about his most challenging rival during his time in the English top flight, De Bruyne gave a nod to both former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho and Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante, both of whom now play in Saudi Arabia.
Initiating his thoughts on the subject, De Bruyne said: “You know in the Premier League, there was probably… well I have to say most difficult, I would say Kante,” before he highlighted how in sync Fabinho was with teammates Henderson and Milner, emphasising their extensive space coverage and robust approach.
“I would say probably these two stood out, they were probably the most difficult in the way that they played. And also because they’re different. Kante is small but he covers so much space and he’s a bit tricky.
“If people are more defensive midfielders, they’re [normally] more bulky, and they’re slower. But Kante has speed, has agility, so he’s a very different player to play against.”
Meanwhile, De Bruyne was treated to a heartwarming set of video tributes from fellow players, adversaries, and other renowned figures in the footballing sphere at the beginning of his interview with Redknapp.
Among those contributing to the touching compilation were Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. Salah’s message, brimming with humor, had been shared ahead of time, with him quipping that there was a spot open for his ex-Chelsea comrade at Liverpool.
Van Dijk couldn’t resist a playful jab at the expense of his close pal, remarking on how it was a “good thing” De Bruyne would no longer be turning out for City, considering their consistent rivalry with the Reds for the Premier League crown.
“Kevin is a special, special player, has special qualities,” Van Dijk said. “He’s a special player in this era as well, the way he played, the numbers he produced, the passes, the creativity.
Learn more
“It was always a difficult task to play against him, and having him as an opponent. So that’s a good thing that he’s not playing for City anymore next year! You have era-defining players and I think he is definitely one of them.”
De Bruyne has been linked with a move to Liverpool but that was never likely to be the case. The Telegraph reports that he has decided to leave the Premier League with sides in Italy and the US interested.
Liverpool.com says: Fabinho at his peak was exceptional, so it should be no surprise that De Bruyne picked out the Brazilian. Ryan Gravenberch has reached similar levels this season but he still has further improvement to do under Arne Slot.
