Newcastle United legend admits regret on the one Premier League player he never got to play with
Charlie Bennett
3 – 4 minutes
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Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer has named Kevin De Bruyne as the player he wishes to have played alongside during his career.
Manchester City confirmed earlier this month that the Belgian would be leaving at the end of the season. Regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players, De Bruyne has won six league titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.
Conversations since the shock announcement have suggested the decision came from the club. De Bruyne hinted at possibly staying in the Premier League amid reported Aston Villa interest.
“I don’t know,” De Bruyne said when asked where he will play next. “Honestly, I don’t know. The decision to leave (Manchester City) has not been long. Nothing can be decided in one week in the football world.
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“If teams come and then convince me that they have a nice sport project. I know I am obviously not the youngest anymore. I still think I am able to perform on the highest level. I don’t know what teams are interested or what they want to do.
“Whatever project (is) available, I am willing to listen. I love football, I love to play football and if a nice project comes and my family is also good with that, we will be able to make a decision.”
Newcastle record goalscorer Shearer – a man who previously admitted to having few regrets in his career – would love to have played with De Bruyne. He told Betfair: “Whether he wants to go and play in the sunshine somewhere in America, or whether he wants to stay in our great league, I don’t know what his plans are but I’d love to see Kevin De Bruyne stay here.
“I still think he has so much to offer in the Premier League. He’s had one or two injuries but that happens and you have to get over that. When you talk about one of the Premier League greats and what he’s done for Man City and how great he’s been, he’s the one player that I look back on and think ‘if only I could’ve played with him’. I’m really happy with my goals but I’m absolutely certain I’d have scored more if I played with him.
“The way he’s put things on a plate and the brilliance we’ve seen week in, week out has been incredible. He’s the one player I think I could’ve played alongside. The end comes to all, whether it’s the end of a career or your time at a football club. It naturally happens and we can’t go on forever.”
Shearer insisted the 33-year-old can still “do a job” in the Premier League away from the Etihad. He added: “Is De Bruyne as good now as he was three or four years ago? Probably not so I’m not surprised from that point of view but he could still do a job for them 100 per cent. There’s no doubt he can do a job at the highest level in the Premier League.
“Whether he can do that every single week remains to be seen and that’s maybe why Manchester City chose not to give him the deal. But he could without a doubt still do a job at the highest level in the Premier League.”
