Manchester City felt the full effects of a returning Kevin De Bruyne as he led the Citizens to a massive comeback win over Newcastle United on Saturday evening. With the Magpies leading 2-1, De Bruyne came off the bench and within five minutes had provided the equaliser, drilling into the bottom corner from outside the box.
The Belgian then delightfully found Oscar Bobb with a lefted through ball to set up the winner in injury time. A seismic boost for City, De Bruyne’s return to full fitness could prove pivotal in this season’s title race, putting increased pressure on current league leaders Liverpool.
The midfielder has established himself as one of the greatest to ever grace the Premier League with Manchester City – however, things could have been very different if he stuck by his childhood allegiances. Kevin de Bruyne once admitted that he was a boyhood Liverpool fan, idolising former striker and Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen. He first admitted it in an interview as a child, but doubled down on the claim more recently in 2019. “I was a Liverpool fan,” De Bruyne said. “My family that live in England were all Liverpool supporters so I was, too. “I loved Michael Owen because I was really small like him and quick, too.
I compared myself to him at the time.”Ever since this information came to light, Reds fans have fantasised about a Liverpool midfield containing De Bruyne – not ceasing to imagine the damage that would be caused if he lined up alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, it remains just a pipedream, with the idea of signing the 32-year-old very much likely to remain in the realm of fantasy for all eternity.
The Manchester City star has even gone on to rule out any potential move to Merseyside, quashing any glimmer of hope of a mammoth switch. De Bruyne admitted he was a fan of the Reds ‘when he was young’ as he took questions from young fans, but replied ‘no, no’ with laughter when asked if he would sign for the club.
