Troy Deeney played in the Premier League when some of the best players English football has ever seen were at their peak.
The former Watford star would have gone head-to-head with the likes of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Eden Hazard at Chelsea, and Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany; therefore, the former striker knows a thing or two about top players.
The talkSPORT pundit was recently asked to pick his dream Premier League team, and given the success of Man City over the last 15 years, it is no surprise to see three legends of the Manchester club in his line-up.
Troy Deeney battles with Man City legend Vincent Kompany.
Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images
Troy Deeney includes Kevin De Bruyne in his dream team
Man City fans consider Kevin De Bruyne to be the greatest midfielder to ever play football, and there is an argument to be made, given the success the Belgian had during his 10 years in Manchester.
This week, Deeney stated that De Bruyne was a better passer than Man United’s Bruno Fernandes, so it is no surprise that the Man City legend is included in the former Watford star’s dream team.
When asked on the Beast Mode Podcast to pick his Premier League dream team, Deeney included De Bruyne, along with fellow City legends Yaya Touré and Kompany.
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Any Premier League dream team without the Belgian would be considered a shock to most these days, as the majority of people consider De Bruyne to be Man City’s greatest player.
Pep Guardiola is one of them, with the legendary coach naming Lionel Messi as the only player he considers to be better than the 34-year-old.
Kevin De Bruyne in action during Fulham v Manchester City
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Kevin De Bruyne is only second to Lionel Messi
De Bruyne had an incredible career in Manchester, with the Belgian featuring 422 times for Man City, producing 108 goals and 177 assists.
The legendary midfield also won every trophy possible at the Etihad Stadium during his 10 years, leading to Guardiola stating that only Messi is above the 34-year-old when it comes to players he has coached.
“Messi is the best I have ever seen because Messi has done it really, really close to the box, but Kevin is there,” Guardiola said about De Bruyne via TNT Sports in May. “It’s just the stats, the goals, the assists, that he provides to the team in the final third and the talent.
“That is unique, that is why he has been one of the best players this club has had in the whole history. These are big, big words because he has been a special player.”
It will be hard for Man City to find a player like De Bruyne ever again, given everything he achieved at the club, and with the Belgian being the face of the Guardiola era, Deeney will not be the last person to include the midfielder in their Premier League dream team.