Gary Neville insists Kevin De Bruyne is the best player the Premier League has ever seen in his position - while Roy Keane hails 'amazing' Man City star

Kevin De Bruyne's last Manchester derby ended successful a dismal 0-0 gully astatine Old Trafford connected Sunday – but the iconic City midfielder was hailed arsenic 1 of the top players successful Premier League past by Sky Sports pundits aft the full-time whistle.

The Belgian, 33, announced earlier this week that helium volition permission City astatine the extremity of the season, drafting the curtain connected a decade-long spell successful which helium has redefined the creation of midfield play successful English football.

His numbers talk for themselves. De Bruyne has recorded 118 Premier League assists – a tally bettered lone by Ryan Giggs – and boasts the champion minutes-per-assist ratio successful the competition's history, mounting up a extremity each 177 minutes.

He has been straight progressive successful a extremity oregon assistance each 111 minutes successful his Premier League career, putting him wide of different greats specified arsenic Frank Lampard (175), Cesc Fabregas (164), and David Silva (157).

After Sunday's 0-0 gully against Manchester United, Gary Neville described De Bruyne arsenic 'the champion subordinate the Premier League has ever seen successful his position'.

But Roy Keane was archetypal to heap praise connected the Belgian maestro.

'I deliberation the stats,' Keane said erstwhile asked what made De Bruyne special. 'We've been sitting present contiguous frustrated astir deficiency of extremity enactment and putting the shot successful the backmost of the net. He done that arsenic a midfielder and his assists were perfectly fantastic.

'I deliberation helium made everything look easy. When he's successful possession, helium ever looks similar he's successful full control. Of course, it's been hard the past twelvemonth oregon 2 with injuries. But erstwhile helium was successful his prime, I deliberation arsenic bully arsenic immoderate midfielder successful the Premier League, peculiarly from an attacking constituent of view. And his stats there, with the assists, positive the goals, are, I think, beauteous amazing.'

Asked whether De Bruyne made his all-time Premier League XI, Keane replied: 'I'd person him successful there.'

Neville went adjacent further – not lone confirming helium would prime him successful an all-time Premier League XI, but calling him the champion successful his relation the league has ever witnessed.

'He's not your classical cardinal midfield subordinate oregon a close winger oregon a fig 10,' Neville said. 'He plays successful that benignant of close pocket. And the players that helium reminds maine of erstwhile I ticker him are David Beckham and Steven Gerrard successful presumption of the crosses that helium puts in. And these players are immoderate of the champion players we've ever seen successful the Premier League.

'Kevin De Bruyne would beryllium successful my all-time Premier League XI arsenic well. I deliberation he's been the champion subordinate successful the Premier League for the past 7 oregon 8 years. And helium puts crosses into a container that marque defenders not cognize whether to privation to really interaction it, permission it, due to the fact that it's successful an country whereby it's truthful unsafe successful betwixt you and the goalkeeper.

'You cognize precisely what he's going to do. He's predictable, actually, successful presumption of reading. So was Beckham and Gerrard. But the occupation is you inactive can't bash thing astir it due to the fact that the precision and the accuracy is truthful good. He's an implicit world-class player. And the transportation for me, that's thing each clip I watched him, was conscionable a happening of beauty.'

Neville continued: 'That stat of the minutes per goal, 111, is truthful overmuch greater than the remainder if you look astatine it. It's incredible, this publication to games. Kevin De Bruyne played successful that close channel, rather methodically. However, if the squad needed it helium would past widen himself and spell and get connected the shot and marque crosses into the box.

'And helium would ever beryllium that subordinate who would bash what the squad needed to triumph a game. I ever felt helium was a difference-maker. Whereas the players you've mentioned – David Silva and Yaya Toure – astonishing players but they weren't difference-makers, similar De Bruyne. They could interaction the crippled but De Bruyne would triumph City truthful galore games. The unit helium enactment connected with his crosses and passes was unbelievable.'

Neville was speaking aft erstwhile City defender Micah Richards, who played alongside some Toure and Silva, had said: 'I thought they were the champion players. David Silva was much of a interaction technician, get the shot heavy and play done the lines. Yaya Toure was truthful bully connected the ball, helium could burst guardant and play a pass. But Kevin De Bruyne, his numbers are conscionable antithetic gravy. What a subordinate he's been. An implicit legend.'

De Bruyne confirmed his impending departure successful an affectional missive posted via societal media connected Friday, writing: 'Dear Manchester, Seeing this you astir apt realise wherever this is heading. So I'll get consecutive to it and fto you each cognize that these volition beryllium my last months arsenic a Manchester City player.

'Nothing astir this is casual to write, but arsenic shot players, we each cognize this time yet comes. That time is here, and you merit to perceive it from maine first.

'Football led maine to each of you - and to this city. Chasing this dream, not knowing this play would alteration my life. This city. This club. These people... gave maine EVERYTHING. I had nary prime but to springiness EVERYTHING back! And conjecture what - we won EVERYTHING.

'Whether we similar it oregon not, it's clip to accidental goodbye. Suri, Rome, Mason, Michele, and I are each grateful for what this spot has meant to our family. "Manchester" volition everlastingly beryllium connected our kids' passports - and much importantly, successful each of our hearts.

'This volition ever beryllium our HOME.

'We cannot convey the city, club, staff, teammates, friends, and household capable for this 10-year ride.

'Every communicative comes to an end, but this has decidedly been the champion chapter.

'Let's bask these past moments together!'

'Much love, KDB.'

Summarising connected Sunday evening, Neville declared: 'He's done everything that you could ever inquire for successful the Premier League. He's close astatine the precise top.'