Man City newbie backed to be 'as good as Messi'

Kevin De Bruyne's former Belgium manager Georges Leekens has claimed that the Manchester City newbie has the potential to be as good Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Eden Hazard.

The 24-year-old joined the Premier League leaders in a stunning £55m deal from Wolfsburg over the summer, becoming the club's marquee buy in what was a busy few months at the Etihad Stadium.

De Bruyne has already spent one spell in English football with Chelsea, but his two-year stint in West London was broken up by loan moves to Genk and Werder Bremen before he was eventually sold.

Despite finding life at Stamford Bridge tough, City have splashed out a huge fee for De Bruyne whose record with Wolfsburg - 13 league goals and 26 assists in 18 months - impressed a host of top sides.

And Leekens believes there's more to come from the player he thrust into the Belgian national side at just 19 for his debut:

"I think he can go to the highest level." he told Goal.  "I mean on the Messi, Ronaldo and Hazard level. He has already shown what he can do.

"He will grow. Wolfsburg are a good club but Manchester City is bigger and now it's the big jump. He's at the age now where he can start a big career at club and international level."