April 6 – Belgium’s attacking midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne (KDB) has announced that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
His loss to the club will be immeasurable because he was a player who could see a pass before it even existed, a player who could cross a ball with tantalising pace and weight, and a player who could bend a game to his will. In a nutshell, he was the smoothest midfielder to ever grace the green pastures of Etihad Stadium.
It wasn’t just his telepathic instincts that beguiled his adoring fans, though. KDB was a serial winner who progressed from a rough diamond to the jewel in Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City machine.
He began his career in Belgium, where he learnt his trade with Genk, while in England he discovered that football is a harsh business making only 3 appearances for Chelsea before being loaned out to German club Werder Bremen.
After an £18 million move to fellow Bundesliga club, Wolfsburg, KDB found his feet, and in just 52 games established himself as one of the premier players on the continent leading to Manchester City smashing their record transfer fee and parting with £58 million to sign the Belgian international on August 30, 2015.
Five months later, Pep Guardiola would arrive at the Etihad Stadium, and English football would never be the same again. Having worked with Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta, Guardiola was equipped to turn KDB into the complete hybrid of the legendary Barcelona midfield trio.
As a runner with the ball, KDB would glide across the turf, seemingly making lung-busting bursts, look nothing more than a casual walk in the park. As a passer of the ball, his range and disguise were unmatched, while in his boots, fierce power emanated from both the right and left foot…a trait, very few players possess.
Off the pitch, the Belgian was a model citizen. A family man. No booze, birds, or betting scandals, just a classy individual.
Wherever he goes next – most likely to Saudi Arabia or Major League Soccer – they’ll get KDB lite, but even that will be better than anything they’ve ever seen.
Simply put, Kevin De Bruyne made everyone around him better.
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1744026913labto1744026913ofdlr1744026913owedi1744026913sni@o1744026913fni1744026913