Elliot Anderson Picks Manchester City Legend Over Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo as Footballing Inspiration

Elliot Anderson Picks Manchester City Legend Over Lionel Messi And Cristiano Ronaldo as Footballing Inspiration Elliot Anderson has revealed he looked up to a Manchester City legend growing up. City have a long tradition of legendary midfield players, from Colin Bell’s trophy-winning era to the magic of David Silva and Yaya Touré and the steel of Rodri and Fernandinho. Following in those footsteps is a challenge few players are capable of taking on, yet Elliot Anderson has slotted into the club’s engine room as if he had played there all his life. Since completing his high-profile summer switch to working under Enzo Maresca, the 23-year-old has established himself as arguably the team's standout performer, recently earning a nomination for the Etihad Player of the Month award for October. Having already won over the Manchester City faithful with his combative, composed displays, the former Nottingham Forest midfielder has shed light on the inspiration behind his playing style. In an interview with City's in-house media for the November edition of the official club magazine , Anderson explained how watching another sky blue icon shaped his understanding of the game long before he ever stepped foot on the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. While most young footballers growing up idolise prolific forwards, Anderson focused his attention on midfield craftsmanship once it became clear what his own role on the pitch would be - as he pointed to legendary playmaker Kevin De Bruyne as his primary inspiration. "As a kid, I guess you say Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were idols for a lot of kids, but once I started to get an understanding of the game and the position I played it was always Kevin De Bruyne who I looked up to and wanted to be," Anderson said. "He was an amazing footballer, and that was the sort of player I always closely looked at. I always watched and really loved the way he played. It was just so satisfying to watch the way he passed the ball." De Bruyne's emotional departure at the end of the 2024-25 season brought a sparkling ten-year spell in East Manchester to a close, leaving behind a legacy of six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and a dozen other club honours. Finding the club’s next star midfielder was always going to be a monumental task for Manchester City , but Anderson - despite being a vastly different style of player - looks as good a candidate as any. A combination of the 23-year-old's ability to dictate tempo and a surprisingly expansive passing range has seen him earn rave reviews across his opening months in Manchester. While the full contingent of summer signings have been a mixed bag so far, Anderson is the clear standout of the new recruits and his immediate impact has proven vital as Manchester City push through a busy autumn schedule both domestically and in Europe.