by So let’s imagine for a moment that you are the owner/operator of a treasure hunting attraction on the Suffolk coast. Who is the last person you want to see turning up at the start line? He is likely someone with incredible speed and ground coverage, great attention to detail and a ruthless competitive streak. Not to mention an unfathomable – verging on supernatural – ability to see a purpose before it physically materializes.
Alas, the future does not record the exact noise emitted at the moment said a treasure hunt operator who eyed Kevin De Bruyne and his printable entry barcode last autumn. The Manchester City midfielder has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury against Burnley in August, and took the opportunity to take his family on a rare mid-season holiday to Suffolk. The passage only records how successful the De Bruynes really were in their scavenger hunt. But we can safely conclude from De Bruyne’s post-shootout debriefing – “it was fun,” he later said of the experience – that he probably got what he wanted.
Related: ‘Kevin is a legend’: Guardiola hails De Bruyne’s immediate spark for City’s title tilt
For De Bruyne, the last five months have been about reset and renewal. A chance to escape the treadmill of elite football, with its punishing schedule and relentless rhythms. A chance to let the ligaments and joints heal properly, enjoy a proper training block, spend time with the kids, spend something approaching normal life. In contrast, the next five months are about making up for lost time. For De Bruyne, the real treasure hunt begins now.
It all starts with the FA Cup quarter-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday night, a ground in which City have not scored much, let alone won. With De Bruyne still working his way back to his prime physicality, he is unlikely to play the full 90 minutes. However, he can make his first start since his return, so watching De Bruyne against a quick, slingy, concussive Spurs side will give us an idea not only of where his fitness, but exactly where he lies in the transfer of Pep Guardiola, slippery City team.
The assumption over the past few years has been that De Bruyne will gradually retire to a deeper midfield role, a withdrawn player, just as Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and even Cesc Fàbregas did before him. Micah Richards described him on Match of the Day as a “quarter back” after his game-winning cameo against Newcastle a few weeks ago, meaning a midfielder who directs play from deep, plays in Popular diagonal balls and crosses.
On a superficial level, it makes some sense. Phil Foden and Julian Álvarez have been successful this season in more central roles. Erling Haaland will be back soon. Something has to give in that front five, so why isn’t De Bruyne aging, using his technical ability to control games from midfield against packed defences? But of course there are two main problems here. First of all, it’s not remotely how Guardiola sees De Bruyne’s career going. And secondly, it’s not remotely how De Bruyne sees himself.
Guardiola often draws an interesting distinction between players who “help you play better” and “players who win games”. Bernardo Silva and John Stones are examples of the former; Haaland and De Bruyne are prime examples of the latter. Guardiola continually refers to De Bruyne as a player who makes a difference “in the final third”, whether through goals, assists or assists. This month he justified not starting De Bruyne against Huddersfield claiming that “the game was tougher and it was so difficult to find space” in the first half. He previously stated that “Kevin is the best in any transfer”.
None of them seem to indicate a move deeper into midfield, where space is even more scarce and where De Bruyne often struggles to influence games for Belgium. The last time Guardiola tried it for any sustained period was 2019-2020, which was the last season City failed to win the title. Instead, his role against Newcastle suggests De Bruyne will be deployed in high-impact situations: big games where there’s a little more space to operate, and big moments where his touch of genius can make the biggest difference. do.
And of course there was always a certain ego at work too, a player who wants to be a difference maker in the final years of his career because of all his dedication and professionalism. All great footballers begin to redefine and refocus their goals as retirement looms. For Lionel Messi, winning the World Cup with Argentina was a huge ambition. Cristiano Ronaldo’s later years were defined by the pursuit of records, awards and personal supremacy. Xavi Hernández and Gerard Piqué, who won almost everything there was to win in football under the age of 30, were soon motivated towards personal development and what would become a lucrative second career for themselves.
What does De Bruyne need most in the next few years? With the best will in the world, he is not going to win the World Cup with Belgium, although the Euros this summer remain an outside possibility. He didn’t seem to be motivated solely by coins and money. Even in his victory, he cut a rather subdued figure after last year’s Champions League final, which was buoyed by the success but also crushed by having to retire on such a high stage for second time in three years.
So perhaps what De Bruyne is looking for above all is the crown: not just another title or another Champions League but a victory closely associated with him, like Sergio Agüero in 2012 and Yaya Touré in 2014 and Rodri in 2023. No. watching on from the center circle, or on the bench with his leg strapped. Being there. To do. Doing the moment that will elevate him from greatness to immortality. He knows, above all, that there is beauty in the quest. But in the end, you won’t take your eyes off the store.
