One player who appears to improve year on year is Kevin De Bruyne.
Ever since the Belgian midfielder was bought by Manchester City from Wolfsburg, he has grown into one of the best in the world, with few capable of matching his eye for a pass or speed of execution.
Displaying his ability under both Pep Guardiola at club level and Roberto Martínez when representing his country, De Bruyne is catching the eye of everyone, include that of Émile Mpenza.
The former striker sat down for an interview with Walfoot over the weekend, where he was asked a number of questions, which led to a few surrounding the Manchester City star.
Asked which player from the current national team he would have liked to play with, Mpenza said, without a doubt De Bruyne.
Pressed further as to why, he replied: “With him, I wouldn’t have had to run as much to find myself in front of the goalkeeper. In my days, I had to run left, then right, to create space. It was a lot of effort. If you don’t have to do that, you’re fresher and you score more easily, and Kevin helps the striker in that regard”.
Despite describing the Manchester City man as a ‘natural talent’, Mpenza also pointed out De Bruyne didn’t rely on that alone, working ‘very, very hard’ to get where he is today.
As for whether the Belgian should finish his career at the Etihad, he said: “And why not? There was Xavi and Iniesta at Barcelona, Pirlo at Juventus… Why not make KDB that kind of player, a legend? Why not finish your career there?
“If he’s happy, for me, he shouldn’t leave. Manchester City have the ambition to become a great team, better by the year. Kevin can help the club reach that level, to stay at City to lead the team”.
