Kevin De Bruyne Critiques Enzo Fernandez's Potential as His Successor at Manchester City
De Bruyne's Critical View on Fernandez
Kevin De Bruyne, a former star at Manchester City, has expressed a critical opinion regarding Enzo Fernandez, who has recently joined the club. De Bruyne stated that Fernandez is "not anywhere near the level he was" during his own tenure with the team. The club confirmed that Fernandez has signed a contract worth £125 million, extending until 2031.
Enzo Fernandez's Path to Manchester City
Fernandez's move to Manchester City follows a successful period at Chelsea from 2023 to 2026, where he secured both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2025. His career began in Argentina with Defensa y Justicia and River Plate, where he collected four major trophies, before a successful season at Benfica in 2022-23, culminating in a Primeira Liga title.
De Bruyne's Remarkable Tenure
Joining Manchester City in 2015 from Wolfsburg for £54.5 million, De Bruyne became one of the club's most celebrated players. Over his decade-long career with the team, he has won every major trophy, including a treble in the 2022/23 season, comprising the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup. His trophy cabinet includes multiple Premier League titles (2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24), FA Cups (2018/19, 2022/23), and Carabao Cups (2015/16, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21), along with the FA Community Shield (2019, 2024). De Bruyne made 288 appearances, netting 72 goals.
De Bruyne's Honest Assessment of Fernandez
In a candid interview with Nieuwsblad, De Bruyne remarked on the notion of Fernandez being labeled his successor by fans, stating it might be "a little too much." He acknowledged Fernandez's talent and potential but emphasized that he does not believe Fernandez is at the same level he once was at Manchester City. De Bruyne noted, "Enzo is a good player, but if we’re being completely honest, I do not think he is anywhere near the level I was playing at for Manchester City."
Fernandez will take over De Bruyne's iconic number 17 jersey, which has become synonymous with the Belgian during his time at the club. The financial aspect of the transfer has sparked discussions, with De Bruyne suggesting that the £125 million price tag may lead to inflated expectations. He stated, "Sometimes I feel people have overrated him because of the price tag and what he has achieved with Argentina. 125 million pounds doesn’t automatically make you a world-class midfielder. He still has a lot to prove. If he wants to be my successor, he has to show it on the pitch first."