Foden song, Haaland clap - Man City stars make Kevin De Bruyne statement after Ipswich
One of the most valuable points for Pep Guardiola in assessing a player is how they are viewed by their teammates.
It could be about how quickly a new signing is integrated, or at what point a young player is trusted by the more senior members of the squad with the ball, or simply who looks for who most. As a former footballer, Guardiola trusts that those on the pitch are one of the best judges for what goes on in matches or in training.
To the surprise of nobody, it is hard to find a player at Manchester City who inspires more warmth than Kevin De Bruyne. The City playmaker will go down as one of the best players in the history of the club and the game, and is still performing; two assists at Ipswich saw him continue his recent resurgence as he leaves a frustrating injury behind.
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De Bruyne, who has taken on the role of club captain as Kyle Walker looks to secure a January move to AC Milan, stopped to speak to reporters after the game at Portman Road where he talked about the team's improvement, Erling Haaland's new deal and his own future, with a contract that runs out at the end of the season.
As his City teammates filed past him, some could not resist the opportunity to get involved. Man-of-the-moment Haaland gave him a thunderous clap on the shoulder as he passed him before Phil Foden clocked De Bruyne and began singing the song that fans belt out on the terraces for him.
Those two are among the most valuable football players in the world, and they both know De Bruyne's worth despite him being a decade older than them.
When City weigh up what the Belgian is worth as they work out what to do about his contract expiring, only a glimpse is needed into how the player's teammates treat him on and off the pitch to see what an important part of the squad he continues to be.
That may not be enough to give either star or club the deal that they want, but it will count for a lot around the negotiating table.
