Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola has Heaped Praise on Departing Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, Describing Him as the “Second-Best” Passer He Has Worked with – Behind Only Argentine Legend Lionel Messi.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Guardiola expressed his admiration for the Belgian midfielder, who announced last month that he will leave City after 10 years when his contract expires at the end of the season. De Bruyne’s final home game will be against Bournemouth on Tuesday, and Guardiola is expecting a warm reception from the City fans.
According to Guardiola, De Bruyne’s exceptional passing ability sets him apart from other players, including former Barcelona stars Andres Iniesta and Xavi, and ex-City midfielder David Silva. “It would be difficult to find another player who passes the ball like Kevin,” Guardiola said. “He is one of the best three I have ever seen. One is Messi, and the other two, let me think about it…OK, let me put Kevin second.”
Guardiola’s praise for De Bruyne is not limited to his technical ability. The City manager also highlighted the midfielder’s impressive goal-scoring and assisting record, which he believes makes him a unique talent. “Messi is the best I have ever seen because Messi has done it really, really close to the box, but Kevin is there,” Guardiola explained. “It’s just the stats, the goals, the assists, that he provides to the team in the final third and the talent. That is unique, that is why he has been one of the best players this club has had in the whole history.”
The BBC understands that De Bruyne’s departure will be a significant blow to City, who will need to find a suitable replacement for the Belgian midfielder. Guardiola, however, remains optimistic about the club’s ability to attract top talent and adapt to the changing landscape of modern football. “These are big, big words because he has been a special player,” Guardiola added. “But we will see what happens in the future. The club will continue to evolve, and we will continue to try to find the best players.”
As the football world waits with bated breath to see what the future holds for De Bruyne, one thing is certain – his legacy at Manchester City will be remembered for a long time. According to the BBC’s source, Guardiola’s comments are a testament to De Bruyne’s exceptional ability and his importance to the City team over the past decade. The BBC will continue to provide extensive coverage of De Bruyne’s final season at City and the implications of his departure for the club.
The article was sourced from the BBC, which has been providing in-depth coverage of Manchester City and the wider football world.
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