Quick overview:
Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City at the end of the season once his contract expires
Jamie Carragher has hailed Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne as the second-best foreign player in Premier League history.
The announcement of De Bruyne’s departure from City at the end of his contract this summer has sparked a reflection on his illustrious career with the club. De Bruyne’s time at City has been marked by remarkable success, with the Belgian international scoring 106 goals and providing 174 assists.
His contributions have helped the club secure six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, two FA Cups, and five League Cups. Carragher, speaking to Sky Sports, placed De Bruyne just behind Arsenal legend Thierry Henry in terms of the best overseas signings in the Premier League era.
“For me, he’s been the best player in the Premier League for the last four or five years,” said Carragher. I think that besides Thierry Henry, [he is] the best foreign player we’ve seen in the Premier League. He would get in my all-time Premier League XI.”
Carragher also praised De Bruyne as one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League. He highlighted De Bruyne’s pivotal role in the fierce title races between Liverpool and Man City over several seasons.
“Liverpool could match Manchester City, I think, in every other area but that attacking midfielder position,” he added. “I always felt when Manchester City got the edge by a point or two that Kevin De Bruyne was the difference.”
Pep Guardiola delivered a heartfelt tribute to De Bruyne following confirmation of his departure. “Sad day. Happy day for the pleasure I live with him. What he gives all of us, his humanity and influence in our success wouldn’t be possible without him,” he expressed.
“A part of us is leaving. He’s one of the greatest in the Premier League, midfielders ever in this country. Always have to be respectful for players from Maine Road and last 20, 30 years. But come on, no doubt he’s one of the greatest for sure. The doors are open for the rest of his life. Whatever he wants to do. The impact of some players transcends the pitch. He is one of them.”
Mikel Arteta, current Arsenal manager and former assistant coach at City where he worked with De Bruyne, commented: “I don’t know if he’s the one, the two or the three, but for me he’s one of the best players in the history of the Premier League.
“I’ve never seen, I’ve never played with a player that can execute that precisely at high speed. He can be running at 33, 34 kilometres an hour and play the ball 30 metres through two people to the perfect spot. I haven’t seen anybody else do that at that pace.
“I would have loved [to have played with De Bruyne]. I was lucky that I was part of a team that he was very much involved in. What I think makes him special, apart from obviously that technical ability, is how strong he is here because Kevin, he always wants to take the risk, he’s willing to make things happen and when the things don’t go for him, he still continues to try that way and I think that separates him from the rest.”
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Published: 2025-04-07 17:00:00 | Author: [email protected] (Matthew Cooper, Bruna Reis) | Source: MEN – Sport
Link: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk
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