“He has, as it was often said of Xavi, “a protractor for a brain and a compass for a right foot”. Like Xavi, he is the king of subtlety. Often, it’s about imparting half a gram more of weight on the ball, or less, or feeding the ball an inch away from the receiver, or an inch less, or curling the ball or not curling the ball. A subtle craft is thus rendered subtler. His isn’t dark art, rather art in clear sunshine.”

“Kevin has an ability that is so difficult to find.Normally a player has to slow down to see the pass, but Kevin sees it when he is at full speed. When one player has this 80-90 per cent intensity, and ability to see the passes, he is more calm than the ones at 40 per cent. He is exceptional.” ( Guardiola)

“Every time Kevin De Bruyne gets the ball he’s got the picture of where he wants the ball to go next. He’s the best passer of a ball I’ve seen in the Premier League. A genius.” ( Gary Lineker)

All extracts from a wonderful writeup on the skills of Kevin De Bruyne .. here.