John Hartson claims Kevin De Bruyne is the world’s second best player after Lionel Messi and the internet can’t handle it
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JOHN HARTSON has made an extremely bold claim about Man City's Kevin De Bruyne.
Speaking on BT Sport Score, the former Welsh international said the Belgian attacking midfielder is currently the second best player in the world behind Lionel Messi.
Hartson said to a visibly shocked BT panel during Man City's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough: "Tell me who's playing better than him in world football right now."
The other guests were able to come up with some alternatives pretty quickly.
Shouts of 'Bale', 'Suarez', 'Neymar', 'Ozil' and 'Sanchez' were heard from across the panel.
And Twitter users were just as brutal towards Hartson.
Hartson's comments echo those made by Man City manager Pep Guardiola a few weeks ago.
The former Barcelona boss said: "I think he [De Bruyne] is a special, outstanding player. He makes everything. Without the ball he is the first fighter, and with the ball he is clear - he sees absolutely everything.
"I think he would like to win these individual prizes - all the players like that. But I think he is happy when he plays with performances like today."
Asked how De Bruyne compared to the best players he's managed, including Messi, Guardiola added: "He's one of them.
"When we talk about Messi, maybe he can sit alone in the table, with no-one else allowed. But in the table beside, Kevin can sit there."