KDB: A TALENT TOO HUGE TO BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE

IN the euphoria that followed the Matheus Nunes winner and the final whistle, Ruben Dias made a beeline for Kevin De Bruyne.

- ANDY DUNN

Late in the dramatic victory over Aston Villa, the Belgian had been replaced by Manuel Akanji and had handed the captain's armband to Dias.

As the celebrations unfolded, the first thought of Dias was to put the armband back where it belonged-on De Bruyne (with Dias, right).

And in that gesture was a snapshot, as if it was needed, of what De Bruyne (above) means to this Manchester City squad.

Which makes his imminent departure from the club all the more baffling.

Judging by Pep Guardiola's keenness to join Dias in saluting De Bruyne in the celebrations - although sometimes it is hard to know whether he is angry or ecstatic - the City boss also remains in thrall to one of the finest midfielders the Premier League has seen.