Mateo Kovacic snubs Kevin De Bruyne to pay ultimate compliment to Manchester City forward | OneFootball

Mateo Kovacic has revealed the name of the Manchester City teammate he has most enjoyed playing with since his arrival from Chelsea in the summer of 2023.

Kovacic was City’s first signing after the four-in-a-row Premier League champions won a historic treble in the 2022-23 campaign and in doing so, secured their maiden UEFA Champions League title courtesy of a 1-0 final win over Inter Milan.

The Croatia international has made 37 appearances in all competitions for Pep Guardiola’s side this season and has been in fine goalscoring form in recent months, scoring for the second straight Premier League game when he put a tricky test away at Everton to bed with a late second for Manchester City.

In the absence of Ballon d’Or Rodri this season, Kovacic has made the number six position his own and been a capable stand-in for his Spaniard teammate, who is closing in on a return to first-team action after stepping up recovery from an ACL injury sustained in September 2024.

In a recent appearance on the official Manchester City podcast, Kovacic was quizzed on which of his Manchester City teammates does he enjoy playing with most, having lined up alongside a wide array of talent since he came in through the door in 2023.

Where most Manchester City players would answer Kevin De Bruyne – who is leaving City in the summer – Kovacic went a different route and extolled the virtue of a teammate who has seen a dip in form this season as compared to his previous personal-best 2023-24 season.

“Phil, he’s top. He’s the player I most enjoy playing with. We have that connection and in the pockets I haven’t seen a better player in my career,” said Kovacic, who has struck up a competent relationship with Foden on the pitch.

“I’ve played with a lot and this is the most difficult position, to move in the pocket and have the ability to receive the ball wherever it comes and turn it over the right way is not easy. I’ve played that position and hate it because you have to wait for the right moment to move the right way and he’s doing it unbelievably. He (Phil) is a special talent and is proving it.”