‘He’s that clever’… Thierry Henry says £54m Man City ace could actually play in a new position one day

Redaction Simon Brett with Srinivas Sadhanand
Published on 2024-02-14 08:30:00

Thierry Henry, a former football player, stated that Kevin De Bruyne has the potential to end his career as a holding midfielder, given his diverse skill set. Since signing with Manchester City in 2015, De Bruyne, known for his exceptional ball control and vision on the field, has been utilized in various positions, showcasing his adaptability and versatility.

Despite initially playing in a more attacking role, De Bruyne has been observed taking on a deeper position in recent years. During Pep Guardiola’s debut season at City, the Belgian player often played in a deeper role, and he has also been deployed as a right-sided attacking midfielder, providing him with the freedom to roam and take up positions across the pitch.

Thierry Henry mentioned that, given De Bruyne’s intelligence and understanding of the game, he can envision De Bruyne transitioning to a holding midfielder role, especially as he enters the latter stages of his career. Henry cited De Bruyne’s ability to read the game and make intelligent decisions as key factors that would enable him to excel in this position.

Notably, the prospect of De Bruyne adapting to a deeper role is not unprecedented, with various attack-minded midfielders having successfully shifted to a holding midfielder position as they aged. Steven Gerrard, for example, demonstrated this transition by excelling as a deep-lying playmaker during his time at Liverpool and maintaining his status as one of the Premier League’s top players.

Henry’s observation suggests that, like Gerrard, De Bruyne, with his exceptional passing range and game-reading abilities, could successfully transition into a holding midfielder role. This potential shift in position would allow De Bruyne, who is currently 32 years old, to capitalize on his wealth of experience and extend his career at the highest level.

In summary, Henry’s insight into De Bruyne’s potential career trajectory highlights the dynamism and adaptability of players, illustrating how their skills and attributes can be harnessed in different positions to extend their impact on the pitch.

Read Original article on Manchester City News