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Bullish mindset, bucket loads of chutzpah, inexorable consistency and Pep Guardiola have transformed a Chelsea discard into Premier League's latest fetish.
Kevin De Bruyne's turnaround has been nothing short of awe-inspiring, to say the least.
Blessed with stupendous playmaking skills and an analytical mind, the winger, during the last 10 weeks, has really established himself as the best midfielder in Europe right now.
The 26-year-old's strike in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Leicester City, earlier this month, was his 50th in 76 appearances, quicker than any other midfielder in the history of the Premier League.
With 20 assists and four goals in all competitions this season, De Bruyne is the best footballer in England, according to his Belgian teammate Eden Hazard.
Now, let's get to know five little-known facts about football's hot property - Kevin De Bruyne.
#1 KDB could have played for Burundi
Although De Bruyne was born in Drongen, Belgium, his roots can be traced back to the Republic of Burundi, a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Africa.
Anna De Bruyne, Kevin's mother, a professional in Petroleum Engineering, was born in Burundi and spent most of her initial years in the east African country before moving to Europe after her marriage with Herwig.
Anna also lived in Ealing, West London, because of her father’s job in the oil industry. Owing to his lineage, De Bruyne was eligible to play for Burundi but he opted to represent the Red Devils instead.
The midfielder is multilingual and is fluent in Dutch, French, German and English.
#2 His nickname is 'tumble dryer'
Despite winning plaudits for his phenomenal conquests, De Bruyne is often the calmest player on the pitch.
The Belgian rarely displays his emotion on the field and is quite subdued even after scoring spectacular goals.
Therefore, irrespective of being the flavour of the season, the 'humble' De Bruyne maintains a cool and calm demeanour on and off the pitch.
Nothing excites him more than scoring goals that's why he often comes across as a phlegmatic character.
De Bruyne replies to WhatsApp messages in a very dry manner and that is why his friends call him "tumble dryer".
#3 Has a clothing line
In early 2014, Kevin De Bruyne became an ambassador for the Special Olympics.
The following year, he decided to invest in a pop-up clothing line in partnership with the firm Cult Eleven.
The brand is named 'KDB' and part of the profits go to an organization called Specials Olympics that is responsible for helping people with special abilities through the sport in which Kevin has been involved for some time.
Football stars, because of their massive global appeal, continually strive to translate their popularity into successful businesses.
CR7 by Cristiano Ronaldo, A-Z by Zlatan Ibrahimovic and FIVE Supply by Rio Ferdinand are a few of the popular clothing brands owned by footballers.
#4 Has his own book
Kevin De Bruyne's biography, titled 'Keep It Simple', co-authored by Raoul de Groote, was released in October 2014.
De Bruyne actively participated in the writing of his book, which is a candid account of the footballer's professional and personal life.
"During his entire football career, Kevin De Bruyne remained himself: an ordinary boy, who likes to 'keep it simple', both in his private life and in the field. A young man with a Ghent father and an English mother, with an opinion and a will of his own. A man with a story, " read the first press text around the book.
KDB's parents revealed that their son liked to keep things simple, hence the title of this book.
#5 He is an avid twitcher
This would come as a surprise but the attacking midfielder, who had more assists than Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014-15, is a nature nut.
KDB makes the most of his time off walking in the country and observing the wildlife.
The avid conservationist was appointed as the ambassador of Weltvogelpark bird sanctuary in August 2014. The sanctuary in Walsrode, Germany, is the biggest in the world, home to 675 different species.
When he was appointed, De Bruyne said: "I hope I can help the plight of endangered species of birds and bring more attention through my sponsorship."
