Kevin De Bruyne played his final Manchester derby on Sunday. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of the classics between Man City and Man United.
Manchester City will be saying goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne in the summer. Before the Manchester derby on Sunday, De Bruyne announced he will be leaving Man City this summer when his contract expires, after 10 successful years at the Etihad.
The news prompted a reaction from many in the footballing world with the likes of Toni Kroos hailing De Bruyne’s Man City career, whilst Man United boss Ruben Amorim shared his respect for De Bruyne too.
Sunday’s game at Old Trafford was the 22nd time that De Bruyne has played against the Red Devils: he’s now played Man United, Arsenal, and Chelsea more than any other club in his career (22 games against each side).
Man City drew 0-0 with Man United in a game that proved very uneventful. City now sit in 6th place of the Premier League table; a point and a place behind Newcastle United in 5th who also have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side.
Micah Richards says Kevin De Bruyne has ‘just outed’ Yaya Toure and David Silva at Man City
Speaking on Sky Sports after Man City’s draw at Old Trafford, former City defender Micah Richards was speaking about De Bruyne, comparing him to the likes of Man City legends Yaya Toure and David Silva. And discussing who might have been the best of the midfielder three, Richards had to side with De Bruyne.
Richards explained: “I played with Yay Toure and David Silva, and I thought they were the best players but I think he’s just outed them over these last couple of seasons.
“David Silva was more of a touch, technician, get the ball deep and play through the lines, Yaya Toure was so good on the ball; he could burst forward and play a pass, but Kevin De Bruyne, his numbers are just different gravy. What a player he’s been. Absolute legend.”
Ahead of the summer, it’s reported that De Bruyne would prefer a move to the MLS over a move to Saudi Arabia. Several teams elsewhere in the world have been linked with the 33-year-old too, including River Plate, Galatasaray, and Fenerbahce.
Kevin De Bruyne’s Premier League stats vs Yaya Toure and David Silva
As an individual player, De Bruyne’s stats certainly suggest he’s the best out of himself, Toure, and Silva, though all three have and had been brilliant midfielders for Man City in their own rights.
All three offered something a bit different and all offered so much to the side. But in De Bruyne, Man City have had a midfielder who can offer those bursting runs that Toure offered, who has that close control that Silva had, but then offers up so much more in terms of goals and assists too.
| Statistic (Premier League) | Yaya Toure | David Silva | Kevin De Bruyne |
| Appearances | 230 | 309 | 280 |
| Goals | 62 | 60 | 70 |
| Assists | 32 | 93 | 118 |
| Mins per G/A | 194 | 157 | 111 |
| PL titles | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| PFA POTY | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| PFA TOTY | 2 | 4 | 5 |
De Bruyne leaving will open up a void in the Man City side that Guardiola may not be able to fill at first. He may bring someone new in or he might yet try to usher in a handful of players from the academy to try and fill the void in the long run.
Man City next play Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.
