Enjoying an impressive run of form, the midfielder currently has no shortage of admirers and we can add two more to the list in Saturday’s Media Watch.
Compatriot Steven Defour has spoken kindly of De Bruyne’s childhood talent, whilst Leeds legend Johnny Giles is also a fan.
We’ll begin with the Burnley midfielder, who has the task of trying to contain his international colleague when the two sides meet.
Defour has revealed what life was like living with the playmaker when the pair were teenagers.
Speaking to the Burnley Express, he recalls: “He really knew what he wanted at that point. He knew he wanted to be a professional player. You could see when you were talking to him. He just wanted to play football and prove it.
“Even then, he could see things way faster than anyone else, so he could argue with the coach.
“Not really arguing, but if the coach said ‘you have to play the ball right’ he would say ‘no’ if he could see a better option because he was so ahead of his team-mates.
“We knew he was good. What struck me about him was right foot, left foot, they were basically the same, which was a remarkable for a boy of that age.”
To the orchestrator of Don Revie’s Leeds now, who believes a combination of both individual talent and the foresight of Pep Guardiola are responsible for the Belgian’s stellar form.
Writes Giles in the Irish Independent: “I must admit, I never saw Kevin De Bruyne as a man who could be a midfield general and control football matches in the way he has been doing for Manchester City.
“Time and the support and encouragement of a top class manager have worked their magic.
“At the moment, De Bruyne is showing the same attributes and attitude which made Xavi the player he was at Barcelona and that’s high praise indeed.”
That’s your lot for today, Blues! We’ll be back with more of the same tomorrow.
