Former footballer John Giles has questioned how well Manchester City’s players get on with teammate Kevin de Bruyne.
De Bruyne is arguably the best player in Pep Guardiola’s City squad, and will surely go down as a club legend.
The 32-year-old Belgian has been pulling the strings in City’s midfield for eight seasons now, and at times this year he has looked at his very best.
De Bruyne has formed a deadly partnership with Erling Haaland, assisting 12 of the striker’s 52 goals so far this season.
The midfielder is no stranger taking matters into his own hands though, and has produced masterful performances in big matches against Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Being such an important player must mean his teammates adore him, right?
Pundit John Giles isn’t so sure.
The former Manchester United and Leeds midfielder recalled De Bruyne’s disappointing World Cup campaign with Belgium at the end of last year, particularly how he appeared to alienate his international teammates.
“He made a few comments during the World Cup, about his fellow players with Belgium,” Giles told Off the Ball.
“He said ‘I can’t do it on my own, I need some help!’ So he had a right go at his fellow players, which is extraordinary.”
While De Bruyne’s form has improved dramatically since he returned from Qatar, Giles pondered the dynamic between the star and his club mates.
“I think Pep got hold of him and said ‘Look, you better start playing,’ which he did and he’s made a huge difference for City in the run-in.
“He’s a very very talented individual, but he gets a bit sulky at times. I’m not too sure his teammates would be in love with him.
“But when he’s on his game… he did make all those goals for Haaland and he has finished the season brilliantly for City.”
De Bruyne showed his short fuse when he told Guardiola to ‘shut up’ during City’s 4-0 win against Real Madrid last month.
City’s two remaining matches this season are against United and Inter Milan in the FA Cup and Champions League finals respectively.
Should De Bruyne help fire his side to victory, his teammates will surely forget about his occasional sulks.
