Kalvin Phillips will be reunited with his 'perfect' teammate when he joins Manchester City. Leeds and England midfielder Phillips will move to City after the Blues agreed a £42m fee this week, and he will be tasked with providing cover and competition for Rodri in defensive midfield.
For England, Phillips has shown defensive midfield qualities alongside a partner, with the ability to push forward from deep, while his assignment for Leeds is more that of a traditional holding midfielder like Rodri or Fernandinho.
He could be used next to Rodri, but it's also likely he would be a direct competitor in order to rest the no.16 at various points of the season. In that scenario, Phillips could find himself playing alongside two players he has spoken extremely highly of in the past - describing one as the best player in the world, and the other as a 'perfect' teammate.
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Starting with Kevin De Bruyne, and it's clear that Phillips is a huge fan of City's Belgian talisman. When Leeds were promoted to the Premier League in 2020, Phillips picked out De Bruyne as the best midfielder in world football.
"I don’t know about trying to stop him, but I think he’s an amazing player, probably the best midfielder in the world," Phillips said in 2020.
"I look at midfielders around the world, and I see him as the best. It will be amazing to play against him, but I’m not too sure how I’d do, to be honest.”
Now, Phillips will only have to worry about stopping De Bruyne if Belgium play England, and it's a Three Lions teammate who he has praised in the past as a 'perfect' player to have on your side.
Speaking during the Euros last year, Phillips said of Jack Grealish: “To play with, he is a dream teammate because he gets you out of so many situations when you’re under pressure.
“The quality he’s got on the ball is scary. When we play against them, it is always a very tough duel between me and him. I can remember the last time we played against each other – we didn’t face each other in 2020/21. In the Championship, we were speaking and was saying Villa were knackered after half an hour. I’m just glad I’m playing with him.”
However, while Grealish and Phillips clearly get on due to their time on international duty, there is one area where Phillips may have to address when he arrives for training at City - what he's wearing.
Because earlier this year, Grealish left a comment on a picture of Phillips wearing some extravagant footwear, saying: "Good to see you back bro. And if you ever wear them shoes and that outfit again I’m unfollowing you."
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