“I’m not the new De Bruyne” – Manchester City’s £46M signing plays down expectations | OneFootball

Manchester City and Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has played down talk of him being a potential heir to Kevin De Bruyne at the Etihad Stadium.

Reijnders was one of seven new signings made by Manchester City in the summer transfer window, with the 26-year-old joining the Blues for £46.5 million from AC Milan in the backdrop of a breakthrough 2024-25 campaign in Italy.

City endured their most challenging season under Guardiola last term and upon replacing long-serving executive Txiki Begiristain as director of football in the summer, Hugo Viana made sweeping changes to the first-team ranks as he ushered in a new era at the Etihad Stadium.

Viana signed off on the exits of De Bruyne, former City captain duo Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan, James McAtee, Ederson and Scott Carson in a crossroads summer window for the Blues, who finished the previous campaign trophyless and failed to challenge for the Premier League title on account of a disappointing third-place finish.

With several senior stars leaving, executives at the Etihad Stadium made a number of stellar acquisitions in midfield and Reijnders was a notable addition to a side that was devoid of a cutting edge going forward last term – when Phil Foden and De Bruyne were far from their usual selves.

The Dutch star starred for Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States just weeks into his arrival from Italy and went on to make a blistering start to life in England, producing an all-time great Premier League debut in a rampant 4-0 opening day win for City away at Wolves, where Reijnders scored his first goal in English top-fight.

Much was made of the departure of De Bruyne, who served as Manchester City’s architect-in-chief for a decade, in the summer, when Viana and co decided against renewing the Belgian’s contract and allowed him to join Napoli on a free transfer.

Reijnders drew comparisons to Manchester City’s midfield legend soon after his heroic debut at the Molineux Stadium but the Dutch star has since struggled to maintain those early highs, being in and out of Guardiola’s starting XI in recent months.

“After my Manchester City debut (against Wolves), analysts compared me to Kevin De Bruyne – a huge compliment. But my role, my qualities are different,” Reijnders said in a recent interview with Voetbal International.

“Manchester City told me from the start and I’ve said it myself many times: I’m not the new De Bruyne. I’m an all-round midfielder but primarily see myself as a number eight. A box-to-box player, between defence and attack.

“I like to be involved in build-up and final phase. That I often arrive in scoring positions is my biggest strength. Usually, I get at least two good chances per game. I’m not scoring as frequently as I did at Milan yet but I’m getting in the right positions. That’s where it starts. I trust the goals will come again.”

Reijnders has recently won his place back in the starting XI, owing partially to key absences in attack for the Blues, but Manchester City’s £46.5 million star is taking the opportunity with both hands, having scored his first goal at the Etihad Stadium last week in a 3-0 win over West Ham.