Kevin De Bruyne, the 33-year-old Belgian midfielder and artistic centerpiece of the club’s recent glory days, would finish out this season and move on. In fact, it completes an incredible ten-year run of service to the club. As a result, De Bruyne came to be considered one of the best players ever in the Premier League. It’s hard to overstate the impact he’s had on his team and league. His departure marks the end of an era for Manchester City. He was instrumental in making the club into a footballing juggernaut both on and off the field.
De Bruyne’s original joyride with Manchester City started in 2015 when they bought him from VfL Wolfsburg. Since then, he has gone on to be synonymous with success, adding a plethora of new silverware to the club’s trophy vault. Pep Guardiola’s management has been a revelation for De Bruyne. Together, they’ve earned two Premier League titles and a Champions League victory in 2023. His technical prowess and ability to control the pace of the game have made him an invaluable asset to the team.
As a box-to-box player, De Bruyne is at his best in open, transitional moments. His ability to combine and generate space and turn the tide of a game is second to none. And, yes, he still regularly tops the assist charts. During his time in the Premier League with Manchester City he’s made an astonishing 194 big chances. This latter statistic speaks to his ability to find goal-scoring opportunities and his unselfishness as a playmaker.
And with his scoring ability, de Bruyne continues to prove himself one of the Premier League greats. Of his overall goals, a third have been scored with his initially strong left foot — a testament to his technical ability on both feet. Perhaps most impressively, 29 of his goals have come from outside the box — an indication of his diverse skill set and adaptability as a finisher.
During his years spent at City, De Bruyne has picked up quite the collection of awards. He has been named Manchester City’s Player of the Year four times. His reliability at the highest level has seen him be selected to the Premier League Team of the Year on five occasions. This honor deepens the validation of his place alongside football’s greats.
After asserting in his day the need for a different role in midfield, De Bruyne’s twilight years on the pitch have ushered change. Former professional player Gary Neville spoke highly of him, stating, “It is getting to a point now where you cannot allow De Bruyne into this space on the right.” This remark underscores De Bruyne’s capacity to dictate play and exploit defensive weaknesses, making him a constant threat to opponents.
In addition to his individual achievements, De Bruyne’s contributions have been pivotal in Manchester City’s collective success. His on-field vision and pin-point passing ability have produced a deluge of scoring chances for his teammates. This has helped to cement his legacy as one of football’s all-time greatest playmakers.
Now that he’s almost out the door at Manchester City, fans and teammates look back at Yaya Toure’s legacy. There’s no disputing his influence on the club’s modern history. He’s been the architect of a transformative era, guiding Manchester City to become one of Europe’s top clubs. His departure leaves a major void that will be hard for the club to fill.
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