The time will soon come for Kevin De Bruyne to step out in front of the Manchester City supporters and wave goodbye to the club where he has achieved legendary status.
De Bruyne is departing the Etihad Stadium after 10 glorious years at the football club, where he’s won every title there is to win and become one of the club’s finest ever players.
The 33-year-old is heading to pastures new ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, and although plenty have been linked, it remains to be seen where he ends up.
De Bruyne won’t just leave City as a legend of the football club but also one of the best to ever grace the Premier League and the whole division will be sad to see him depart this summer.
Given how well he’s performed during his time at the football club, it would appear that some pundits have been made to eat humble pie after some crazy predictions back in 2015.
Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images
Phil Thompson and Paul Merson mocked Manchester City over Kevin De Bruyne
After failing to convince Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, De Bruyne was offloaded to Wolfsburg after nine appearances without a goal at Stamford Bridge.
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Much like Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, however, it was on the continent that De Bruyne really started to showcase exactly what he was capable of.
The midfielder managed 57 goal contributions in 73 games for the Bundesliga outfit, but after City agreed to pay £54 million for his services, the decision was met with ridicule by two pundits.
Phil Thompson famously said on Soccer Saturday in 2015: “The De Bruyne transfer, the world is going mad, isn’t it, Jeff?
“You look at the amount of money they’re paying for this boy, is just absolutely bonkers.
“That’s a good player but is he a great player in that respect, for what he’s done, where he’s played? Wolfsburg are a good team, they’ve gone into the Champions League but come on.
Paul Merson agreed, throwing a typically sarcastic quip in about him believing that the actual fee was in lira and not pounds!
He backed up Thompson by saying: “I don’t think Mourinho was wrong to let him go. He didn’t do it at Chelsea. He didn’t get loads of chances but he didn’t look part of the Chelsea way and I think it was right for him to go.
“There are players that you see and you think, ‘yeah, there’s a bit there’, but I just don’t see this. I don’t see £50 million for this player. He played for the top club in England in Chelsea and he didn’t cut it.
“Honestly, Jeff, I thought it was £50 million lira!”
Kevin De Bruyne stats at Manchester City
Although De Bruyne has struggled with injuries in the last two seasons, it’s fair to say that the Belgian will leave very big shoes to fill at City.
The player cares deeply about the football club, and it’s a real shame that he won’t be finishing his career in Manchester City colours.
Kevin De Bruyne stats at Manchester City Total
Appearances 420
Goals 108
Assists 177
De Bruyne will have two more games to play in a City shirt, with tonight’s game against Bournemouth being followed by Sunday’s against Fulham.
Whatever happens before the end of the season, it’s pretty clear that Thompson and Merson should feel very foolish about the comments they made in 2015.