Micah Richards believes that Man City might make a mistake to allow Kevin De Bruyne to leave for a free transfer, while Jamie Redknapp says that the “Genius” Belgium International still has much to offer in the Premier League.
Midfielder De Bruyne said an emotional farewell to supporters after making his last city in the Etihad Stadium in the 3-1 Premier League win on Bournemouth Tuesday evening.
The next destination of the 33-year-old is unknown and Richards believes that he can still be a big asset for Pep Guardiola next season.
“To let these kinds of players leave for a free, there is just not good,” Richards said on Sky Sports.
“He has so much more to offer to this football club.
“I could see him in a deeper role without the urgent figures he once had. But in terms of the ball, the things that Man City always dominates the ball. He could certainly still put a job on the ball.
“But they have made a decision, it is not meant, and I hope that wherever he goes, he goes exactly what he has been doing in the last 10 years. He still has so much to offer at the highest level.
“He is a superstar, an absolute superstar.”
Belgium International De Bruyne scored 108 goals in 421 games for the city since he was at the German club Wolfsburg in 2015.
During his 10-year stay, he became the most successful player in the city and won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, Five League Cups, the Champions League, the Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
“He lets his football talk,” said Richards. “He is such a shy character, but over the years I have met him and seen how humble he is and how great a player he is, it's just great to see.
“He earned his broadcast. Everyone who played with him speaks very much about him, and to do what he did in the Premier League, is simply sensational.”
Could De Bruyne stay in the Premier League?
Richard's' colleague expert Jamie Redknapp has called De Bruyne a “genius” and believes that there is a chance that he could stay in English football after this season.
Redknapp, who interviewed De Bruyne on Monday for Sky Sports, said, “I asked him:” What is the next step? What do you think? ” And he said: “Maybe the Premier League but I don't know.”
“There was no categorical 'absolutely not', so who knows? Because he is not only a great player, but he will also have an ego that he wants to prove himself.
“I can't wait to see what his next step is,” he added. “He can go to a deeper role.
“It will be fascinating because I would be amazed if there are no few Premier League clubs, and many will not be able to pay him, saying:” I will have him for a few years. He could still do a bit for us. “
“There are football players and there are legends, and he is a legend – an absolute legend for this football club and a legend of the Premier League.
“We use the word 'big' a ​​lot; Groot does not do it right, he is a genius.”
In photos: the farewell to De Bruyne on the Etihad …
'It's something you can't buy' | Pep responds to Emotional De Bruyne who sends away
City boss Guardiola was in tears when tribute was paid to De Bruyne on the big screen.
Sergio Aguero, Mike Summerbee, Fernandinho, Aymeric Laporte, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane, Pablo Zabaleta, Joe Hart, Riyad Mahrez and Vincent Kompany belonged to the club quantities and former players who appear in the assembly.
Guardiola said after the game with Sky Sports: “There is something that you can't buy, if you are honest. He has all the love, especially the gratitude for the player year after year what he did.
“The most important thing was to win the game and we did it against an incredible opponent. They destroyed us in the Premier League in the first stage.
“The games are always good, we had opportunities, they had opportunities, it was open and the people enjoy.”