SUMMARY
- Kevin De Bruyne's game-changing performance against Newcastle United is grabbing headlines.
- Returning from his recent hamstring injury, he left the pitch with an immediate impact on 13 Januarywhen he helped his side win a thrilling 3-2 encounter at Saint James' Park.
Kevin De Bruyne’s incredible display of play by coming off the bench to help Manchester City come from behind against Newcastle United last weekend has been making the headlines.
The Belgian International was almost out of action for five months. In August 2023, he suffered a hamstring injury in the very first match of the season against Burnley. However, returning from the injury, he left the pitch with an immediate impact last weekend when he helped his side win a thrilling 3-2 encounter at Saint James’ Park.
His impact and contribution to the blue side of Manchester have been immense over the years. The 32-year-old has been on the scoresheet 97 times and assisted 155 times while playing for Manchester City. Such is his class; his teammate and English international, Kyle Walker, puts him in the same category as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kyle Walker says Kevin De Bruyne is in the same bracket as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo 👀 pic.twitter.com/38deVYhphs
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) January 18, 2024
According to a recent interview, Walker stated, “I think there’s only certain players, the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, that you can say are in the same bracket as Kevin – Kevin goes into that bracket for me.”
However, it took the Belgian midfield maestro almost nine years to get acknowledged alongside the two world’s greatest. De Bruyne made his move to Manchester City back in 2015 from VFL Wolfsburg, and the rest is history.
Rio Ferdinand finds Kevin De Bruyne a ‘jewel in the crown’ for Manchester City
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for Kevin De Bruyne after his incredulous performance against Newcastle United last weekend.
De Bruyne, who equalized the score and helped Oscar Bobb score with an injury-time assist, has been regarded as a ‘jewel in the crown’ for Manchester City.
Rio Ferdinand on Kevin De Bruyne and reception at St Jame’s Park.
via FIVE pic.twitter.com/JImNBhIrKf— ✨Fānn (@LeibeFutbol) January 15, 2024
During his commentary for the game on TNT Sports, the former English defender said, “That man, you are back; you are the gem; you are the jewel in the crown. You’re back and look at them [City] now; watch momentum kick in. These guys know what to do and when to put the pedal to the floor.”
Ferdinand also talked about De Bruyne’s influence on the team and the fact that the Belgian international has been setting standards since he joined the club.
Chris Sutton doesn’t believe Kevin De Bruyne is the best midfielder in the Premier League
Soccer pundit Chris Sutton doesn’t feel the same way as the rest of the pundits about Kevin De Bruyne. On a question about whether Kevin De Bruyne could be regarded as the best midfielder ever in the Premier League, Sutton rated a few players ahead of the Belgian midfielder.
Sutton named former Manchester United midfielders Roy Keane and his colleague Paul Scholes as the greatest midfielders to have played in the Premier League, putting De Bruyne in third.
Now on Naija Reports
CHRIS SUTTON: Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne is the greatest ever passer in the Premier League https://t.co/4yzQGfUNYv pic.twitter.com/MYScic8iPv— Naija Reports (@naija_reports) July 2, 2020
Sutton stated, “The artist Kevin De Bruyne at three. At number two, Roy Keane. I just would have loved to have been in that Manchester United team in that dressing room. I was in awe of him [and of] that whole United team. He was the leader, he was the catalyst, he was the go-to man, the driving force, so he would be in it too. My number one would be Paul Scholes. I mean, what couldn’t he do?”
However, De Bruyne has plenty of years ahead of him to change Sutton’s mind. The Belgian international is only 32 years old and will be looking forward to doing the same things he has been doing over the years.