Xavi Pays Kevin De Bruyne The Ultimate Compliment

Kevin De Bruyne's scintillating form in the first half of this season is a major reason for Manchester City's 15 point lead at the Premier League summit. And now, the Belgian playmaker has received the highest praise possible from one of the greatest ever to play the game.

De Bruyne was once again at his imperious best on Wednesday night during City's tight 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at St.James' Park, beautifully laying on Raheem Sterling's winning goal while also creating a number of other chances for his teammates.

It was a performance very much in keeping with the rest of his mesmeric displays this season and now Barcelona legend Xavi has drawn comparisons between the former Wolfsburg attacker and Lionel Messi.

Messi famously thrived under Pep Guardiola at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, cementing himself as not only the greatest player of his era, but perhaps of all time. Now, De Bruyne is flourishing under the Catalan manager, who's side inhabit the 'Barcelona DNA', according to Xavi.

Speaking to the Mirror, the World Cup and Champions League winning midfielder said, "Pep's teams win as teams, but even the most special sides need that player to look to when they need something special.

"At Barcelona we had it with Messi and this team Manchester City have it with De Bruyne.

"Every time he has the ball, you get the feeling that he is going to do something special with it.

"Not every game you can win 3-0 or 4-0, especially in the Champions League and that is when you need one moment of brilliance from a special player.

"City are playing with The DNA of Barcelona, but that is no surprise. Pep has Barcelona DNA and transmits that to Manchester City.

"The football they are playing is mesmerising. They are the in-form team in Europe and as good as their players are, Pep has to take credit for the football they are playing and the form they are in.

"Pep teams do not just happen, these record runs do not just happen, treble-winning seasons do not just happen - they happen because Pep is obsessive about winning.

"He is focused, he hates to lose and that becomes infectious with the players."

As far as praise goes, it doesn't get much better than that for any footballer.

(H/T The Mirror)

Topics: Xavi, Manchester City, Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Kevin de Bruyne

Joe Baiamonte

Northerner. Assistant Editor of SPORTbible. Studied Journalism and Broadcasting in a portakabin on a car park of Salford University for three years. Believes football peaked with Serie A in the '90s and strong-arms pro wrestling references into as many articles as possible. Neymar once took 50 euros off me during a game of poker.

@JoeBaia