It has been a sad few days for Manchester City fans as it was confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne would leave the club at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old has won 16 trophies since joining Manchester City from German side Wolfsburg in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
City will now need to look at signing replacements, with the likes of Charles De Ketelaere and Florian Wirtz mentioned as potential targets.
However, there’s a player in City’s academy who has likened himself to De Bruyne and who scored a brace for the U18s on Saturday, with fans calling for his promotion.
Manchester City fans call for Divine Mukasa to be promoted
The player in question is Divine Mukasa, who took his tally for the season to 17 goals and 25 assists from just 35 youth outings after his brace and assist at Wolves U18s.
Mukasa won a penalty and stepped up to convert from the spot on 56 minutes before adding a second just five minutes later.
The 17-year-old also weighed in with an assist for Finlay Gorman to complete the rout of the West Midlands side.
A number of City fans called on Pep Guardiola to promote Mukasa, whose goal and assist tally this season is nothing short of staggering.
“If Wirtz declines the offer to join Man City, I want Mukasa to stake his claim as the KDB successor,” one fan wrote on X.
“I know it’s a massive jump but look where Wirtz, Musiala and Bellingham were at 17. They weren’t massively ahead of where he is now.
“I want City to motivate him as a potential KDB.”
Another said: “This Divine Mukasa kid is a real baller. Two goals one assist today away at Wolverhampton. Bring him to first team next season.”
The praise kept coming, with one fan writing: “Dear DIVINE MUKASA, batch into Pep’s office first thing tomorrow and tell him to his face that you are capable of replacing Kevin De Bruyne.
“If he ignores you, then go to another club and show the world the talent that you are.”
Another said: “Just the 2 goals and an assist for Divine Mukasa today. So far ahead, lol Pep, Viana and Txiki all better have their eyes locked on.”
Another fan said: “I just hope Mukasa will be in preseason…idc.”
Divine Mukasa’s Kevin De Bruyne comparisons
Along with fans claiming Mukasa could one day become De Bruyne’s replacement, the player himself has likened himself to the Belgian star.
Mukasa is an attacking midfielder by trade has an exceptional range of passing, quick feet and sublime technique – reminiscent of a young De Bruyne.
Earlier this year, Mukasa named De Bruyne and Zinedine Zidane as his idols but notably, claimed that he is similar to the six-time Premier League winner as a player.
“[De Bruyne] is similar in terms of always looking to create and score goals,” Mukasa said.
“From the times I’ve trained with them, I’ve tried to pick up as much as I can from the way he behaves, he gives everything every day.”
