Kevin De Bruyne gave an interesting answer when asked which of Erling Haaland and Sergio Aguero is the best striker he has ever played with.
De Bruyne is unquestionably one of the top midfielders in contemporary football, delivering his peak performances since he joined Manchester City in 2015.
During his time at the club, the Belgian has amassed 103 goals and 171 assists in 386 appearances, which is an astonishing record.
Although his exceptional play has helped City achieve significant success, many of his assists have been made possible by the presence of outstanding strikers.
Throughout his career, De Bruyne has partnered with several top goal-scorers, but he has had the most success with Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland.
Aguero, City’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals, benefited from numerous assists provided by De Bruyne.
However, Haaland, who has won two Premier League Golden Boots and scored 70 goals in 69 Premier League matches, has also been highly effective.
When asked if Haaland is the best striker he has ever played with, De Bruyne responded thoughtfully.
“It’s a tough question. In terms of finishing, I’d say yes,” De Bruyne said.
“In general, maybe Kun [Sergio Aguero], but it depends on what aspect you’re referring to. Erling is the most prolific striker I’ve played with.”
De Bruyne has played alongside top strikers like Kun Aguero, Samuel Eto’o, and Fernando Torres, making it difficult to compare them. However, the statistics are clear. Haaland has started the season exceptionally well, and De Bruyne hopes he continues this form.
Haaland will be pleased to know that De Bruyne, who is in the final year of his contract with City, did not engage in talks with other clubs over the summer.
“There was a lot of speculation and news, but I expected a quiet summer, and that’s exactly what happened,” De Bruyne said.
“I took a four-week holiday, came back, and resumed training. That was all. I haven’t been approached by anyone or had any discussions with other clubs.”
