De Bruyne picks Ilkay Gundogan ahead of Yaya Toure

Manchester City superstar Kevin De Bruyne has picked Ilkay Gundogan ahead of former Ivorian star Yaya Toure.

De Bruyne's City journey is nearing its conclusion, with the Belgian maestro set to leave the club at the end of the season upon the expiration of his contract.

De Bruyne's emotional final game at the Etihad capped with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday.

The match served as a fitting send-off, with fans saluting the midfielder’s unmatched contribution over the past 10 years.

De Bruyne made a noteworthy omission in choosing Ilkay Gundogan over Yaya Toure, a legend in his own right.

“I’ll probably take Yaya and Samir [Nasri] out because I have not played long enough with them, for me. They were so, so good,” De Bruyne explained in a feature on City’s YouTube channel.

He added, “I’m tossing it up between Gundo and Bernardo [Silva]. How do you choose between them? It is not like he has been so, so good and the other one has been just good. Everyone has been so high."

“I’ll probably pick Gundo, because Gundo was more that position. Bernardo floated in and out of that position, he also played on the right a little bit more. I’ll pick Gundo for the midfield," he concluded.

Reports strongly suggest that the next chapter of De Bruyne’s decorated career will unfold in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire, marking a significant move that echoes the growing appeal of the American league.

De Bruyne won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and the UEFA Champions League at the Etihad.