Carragher: Kevin de Bruyne will go down as 'City's greatest ever player'

Jamie Carragher says Kevin de Bruyne will go down in history as 'Manchester City’s greatest ever player' after his performance against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

Carragher hailed De Bruyne as the 'best midfielder in the world' after he scored a 70th-minute winner in a tense Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Etihad Stadium.

However, Micah Richards has said that De Bruyne will only go down in history as one of Manchester City's finest if he delivers a Champions League trophy - claiming David Silva and Yaya Toure are currently above him in ranking.

Speaking on BT Sport after Manchester City's game on Tuesday night, Carragher said: 'He’s [Kevin de Bruyne] the best midfielder in the world. I think he’s an absolute joy to manage.

'There is never anything off the pitch. Even his interviews he comes across as very humble. He doesn’t miss games. His quality is there week in and week out. I think he will go down as Manchester City’s greatest ever player.'

Richards agreed with Carragher to an extent but said De Bruyne must deliver the Champions League to be in with a chance of going down in history as the best midfielder in the world.

Richards said: 'If he brings the Champions league home, I will probably agree with that. If he stays at the same level and doesn’t bring it home, I would say a David Silva, a Yaya Toure are. You can’t just dismiss the magician that is David Silva.'

To which Carragher fiercely responded: 'De Bruyne is the best player in the world in his position. David Silva was never the best player in the world in his position. Never.

'He [David Silva] wasn’t. Kevin de Bruyne will score more goals and get more penetrative passes than David Silva.'