Kevin De Bruyne has absolutely nothing left to prove and yet, despite perceived struggles this season, 2023 might somehow become the biggest year of his glittering career to date.
Even with four goals and 13 assists in the Premier League alone, there has been something missing from City and their main man this campaign. Unthinkably, the 31-year-old has even been left out of key games despite him usually being spared such treatment from tinker-happy City manager Pep Guardiola.
But while the innovative Catalan has form for shuffling his pack, continuity is key when it comes to his trump card and De Bruyne has that extra spring in his step once again. Guardiola now has a straightforward decision to make when setting out his plan for De Bruyne and his star-studded teammates.
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By the time De Bruyne returns from this latest international break - where it was confirmed he would be the new Belgium captain - he will almost certainly be sitting on 99 international caps, while also on the brink of more personal and collective recognition at City.
Erling Haaland naturally took centre stage for his astonishing five-goal return against RB Leipzig to move City through to the Champions League quarter-finals. However, with bigger tests to come in the charge for elusive European honours, it was De Bruyne and his performance in that game that really meant the most.
Guardiola knew it, too. Speaking about De Bruyne in his post-match press conference, the City manager said: "I'm going to discover De Bruyne? After seven years, I'm going to tell you how incredible he is?"
Actions, as they say, speak louder than words. Guardiola has not exactly showered De Bruyne with praise this season as pundits and supporters attempt to ascertain the reasons for his dip in form. But the dip is, for mere mortals, still representative of an impressive season when it comes to statistical output.
Despite not being able to boast jaw-dropping numbers as in previous campaigns, De Bruyne might yet celebrate being handed the national armband with a fifth Premier League title and maiden Champions League medal.
That would mean more to him than any goal or assist tally.
Despite his rather public calls for De Bruyne to show more, Guardiola spoke volumes when selecting him for the Leipzig return match and he was rewarded with a typically domineering performance. Haaland wrote the headlines, but De Bruyne grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck to set City on their way.
He followed it up with a business-like impact against Burnley and his former captain Vincent Kompany in the FA Cup, providing two assists during the 6-0 demolition. Had that been against any other opponent, Kompany would have been as proud as punch to see De Bruyne reproduce the goods City are so accustomed to.
De Bruyne needed no extra motivation to get him firing over the last seven days. However, after following in Kompany's footsteps by being named captain of the national team, he did further underline his credentials to eventually take over as City skipper. With mounting speculation over the man currently in that position - Ilkay Gundogan - as his contract draws to an end, Guardiola has an obvious succession plan.
One or two concerns aside, this is the year De Bruyne has been waiting for with club and country.
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