Kevin De Bruyne Reveals Why He Believes Erling Haaland Will Surpass Sergio Aguero at Man City
De Bruyne names Haaland over Aguero in his all-time Man City XI and explains why the Norwegian goal machine is destined for even greater things at the Etihad.
Kevin De Bruyne has spent a decade at Manchester City playing with some of the best players in football. From the solid presence of Vincent Kompany at the back to the magic of David Silva in midfield, the Belgian star has been part of an era filled with success and world-class teammates.
Now, after ten trophy-filled years at the Etihad Stadium, De Bruyne has been asked to name his ultimate Manchester City XI — and one of his most talked-about choices was up front.
With legends like Sergio Aguero and rising stars like Erling Haaland to choose from, De Bruyne admitted this was one of the hardest decisions to make. But in the end, he picked Haaland over Aguero.
In a chat with Man City’s YouTube channel, De Bruyne explained why he went with the 24-year-old Norwegian striker.
“Erling is just a machine,” he said. “When he sees the goal, it is a different kind of person. I’ll probably go, Erling, also for what I think will come.”
While the Belgian was careful not to disrespect Aguero — who scored 260 goals for the club — he hinted that Haaland has something even more special about him. “I actually think we had a really good connection also [with Aguero], but I’ve had it with Erling also.”
De Bruyne’s decision is sure to divide fans. Football legend Ally McCoist recently said he believes Aguero is still the better player at this stage. But De Bruyne’s choice might be influenced by what he sees in training every day — and what he expects from Haaland in the future.
Since joining City in 2022, Haaland has been breaking records with ease. He scored an incredible 52 goals in all competitions during his debut season, making an instant impact in English football.
This season hasn’t been quite as impressive, and Haaland has even faced criticism. Former striker Alan Shearer, for example, questioned why the forward didn’t take the penalty in the FA Cup final. But De Bruyne’s belief in the striker clearly hasn’t changed.
| Player | Games | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Sergio Aguero | 390 | 260 |
| Joe Hayes | 339 | 146 |
| Francis Lee | 308 | 138 |
| Colin Bell | 457 | 137 |
| Raheem Sterling | 339 | 131 |
| Erling Haaland | 141 | 120 |
If Haaland stays at the Etihad for the long term, he will have his eye on breaking Aguero’s all-time goal record. The Argentine scored 260 goals for the club. Haaland is already 120 goals into that chase — and he’s done it in 249 fewer games.
His scoring rate is frightening, and many expect him to keep going strong next season.
While Haaland looks set to stay at City for years to come, De Bruyne’s future is less certain. The 33-year-old captain has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States, with Chicago Fire named as a possible destination.
