Manchester City’s ‘best-ever player’ Kevin De Bruyne will be dearly missed, says Erling Haaland ahead of FA Cup final | OneFootball

Manchester City will dearly miss Kevin De Bruyne when he leaves the club at the end of the season, Erling Haaland has said when previewing this weekend’s FA Cup final.

City come up against Oliver Glasner’s side at Wembley on Saturday in what remains their sole remaining shot at silverware this term after succumbing their Premier League title crown to Liverpool and crashing out of the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage.

Pep Guardiola is set to be backed heavily in the upcoming transfer window and has the impossible task of replacing Kevin De Bruyne, who will be leaving the 2023 treble winners at the end of an illustrious, trophy-laden 10-year spell in Manchester.

Since signing for a then club-record fee in 2015, De Bruyne has led the Blues to six Premier League titles and played through hamstring injury in the final months of City’s historic 2022-23 campaign to lead his side to a treble and their maiden UEFA Champions League title.

Speaking to the official club website ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final, Erling Haaland paid an emotional tribute to the departing De Bruyne after three seasons of playing alongside the 33-year-old after joining from Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s been a pleasure to play with him (De Bruyne). Hopefully in the last couple of games we’re going to have a really good time,” Haaland said.

“We clicked straight away from the first second and it’s going to be emotional when a good friend leaves. Maybe the best player ever to play for (Manchester) City – one of the best to play in the Premier League as well.

“Hopefully we can make it a good one in the last few weeks. You really can’t replace a player like him (De Bruyne) because he’s got something so special with the way he puts the ball into the box.

“You can see many of my goals are assisted by him (De Bruyne) and some of them have been ridiculous. We have to make the best out of it and give him a good farewell.”

Manchester City will be paying an emotional farewell to De Bruyne in their upcoming Premier League game against Bournemouth – which will mark the Belgian’s final appearance at the Etihad Stadium in sky blue colours.

City have identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz as their preferred replacement for Kevin De Bruyne and the family of the 22-year-old Germany international are reported to have met with Etihad Stadium bosses in Manchester this week to discuss a potential summer move.