Danny Murphy believes Kevin De Bruyne could be the best midfielder in the world.
Considering the form of players like Jude Bellingham as well as other midfielders at Manchester City like Phil Foden and Rodri, some might disagree with such a claim.
After all, the Real Madrid superstar has lit up La Liga in his debut campaign with the City pair might be the two most in-form midfielders in the Premier League.
During this campaign, Phil Foden has often stepped into the Belgian’s shoes and stepped up to the plate for the treble-winners, as Thierry Henry pinpointed in February.
Even last season, one could have a fair debate about whether De Bruyne or Rodri had a superior campaign.
Danny Murphy says Kevin De Bruyne could still be the best midfielder in the world
During this campaign, Phil Foden has often stepped into the Belgian’s shoes and stepped up to the plate for the treble-winners, as Thierry Henry pinpointed in February.
Considering such factors, some may state such claims to make the case as things stand, perhaps the crown perhaps may not be on the £54 million (The Telegraph) man’s head as the world’s undisputed best.
However, while Danny Murphy has credited Manchester City for winning games in his absence, he still feels Kevin De Bruyne may be the gold standard for midfielders in world football.
“Kevin De Bruyne is still probably the best midfielder in the Premier League, if not the world right now, but City have still won game after game without him”, he said on BBC Sport.
Solely looking at form to put others above Kevin De Bruyne would be reductive
In our view, Danny Murphy should have definitively claimed Kevin De Bruyne remains the best midfielder in the world.
If not for his injury this season, De Bruyne would have been a force to be reckoned with once again, judging by how brilliant he has looked since he has looked since his return.
Considering how long the five-time Premier League winner has been at the top for, it would be absurd for an injury to convince the masses that young midfielders such as the likes of Foden and Bellingham in particular have surpassed him.
Even if De Bruyne was fit since the start of the season and he was in poor form, for players of his calibre, they should be given the benefit of the doubt as they will likely make a mockery of their doubters.
The same goes for Mohamed Salah, who perhaps may have received stick due to not being at his relentless best during the first half of last season. Cut to the second half of the 2022/2023 season and this campaign; Salah has been one of the best players in the game.
The same applies to a legend of the game like Kevin De Bruyne, who in our view, remains the best of the best as no other midfielder in the world has raised the bar like he has.