Real Madrid’s Rodrygo has named a player who spent a decade at Manchester City as the best he has ever played against.
Real Madrid have taken on Manchester City on a number of occasions across recent years. In fact, it is not far off becoming an annual event in the Champions League.
Nothing much has changed this season as the two teams met in the league phase and this will not be the only time they collide.
Man City have drawn Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16, which means Rodrygo and his team will once again take on Pep Guardiola’s sky blue army.
However, City will not have a player this time round who has been one of their most important in recent years.
Rodrygo names Kevin De Bruyne as his greatest opponent
Rodrygo has played for Real Madrid since 2019, which means he has faced Manchester City on a number of occasions.
It is therefore not necessarily a surprise that he has selected Kevin De Bruyne as the greatest player he has ever lined up against.
🚨 Rodrygo: "The best player I ever faced? Kevin De Bruyne. His technical level, his movements, his passes. He's the best I ever faced." @CazeTVOficial via @City_Xtra pic.twitter.com/JEs12mKLGD
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) February 27, 2026
Speaking to Caze TV, Rodrygo said: “The best player I ever faced? Kevin De Bruyne. His technical level, his movements, his passes. He’s the best I ever faced.”
De Bruyne’s Man City reunion ended in disaster
Man City could certainly use a player like De Bruyne in their squad as they chase the Premier League title, but ultimately the Belgian’s best years were behind him by the time he departed.
He was, however, welcomed back to the Etihad Stadium earlier in the season when Man City faced Napoli in the Champions League.
Unfortunately for De Bruyne, he was substituted after only 26 minutes due to Giovanni Di Lorenzo receiving a red card. Regardless of this, the playmaker will be remembered for many years come for everything he helped City to achieve.
