There will be no shortage of Manchester-based players expected to feature in this year’s FIFA World Cup. Manchester City and Manchester United have several players who will be on international duty for their countries.
Here is a look at four of the city’s leading stars who will be in action in Qatar for the pinnacle of international football.
Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)
Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been named the Premier League’s PFA Player of the Year twice in the last three years. The Manchester City player will be hoping to lead Belgium to World Cup success in Qatar.
De Bruyne is part of a golden generation of players for Belgium who have underachieved on the international stage. The World Cup this year will be the chance for them to prove they have what it takes to prevail in a major tournament. They are 8/1 in the bet on World Cup outright odds.
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With De Bruyne at the top of his game for City this season, Belgium are likely to get one of the teams popular in the World Cup football predictions for who will lift the trophy. The 31-year-old old plays a similar role for his country so expect to see him involved in the final third of the pitch.
Ederson (Brazil)
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Manchester City’s Ederson and Liverpool’s Alisson are two of the best goalkeepers in the world. Those two shot-stoppers are going to be competing for the starting position for Brazil at the 2022 World Cup.
Ederson started six games for Brazil in 2021 and he will be doing all he can in the opening half of the 2022/23 campaign to convince his international head coach that he deserves to get the gloves in the competition.
The City player has had four clean sheets from his opening seven Premier League games this season. He could prove to be the difference between helping his country win a sixth World Cup this year.
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is a key player for Portugal, as much as his club teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Fernandes scored both of his country’s goals in their 2-0 success over North Macedonia in their play-off tie which ensured they booked their place in Qatar.
Just like for United, Fernandes is a big goal threat for his country. Portugal tend to reach the knockout stages at the very least at the World Cup and Fernandes and Ronaldo will be hoping they can go all the way to the trophy this time around.
Harry Maguire (England)
England defender Harry Maguire was one of the standout players who helped the hosts reach the final of Euro 2020. He ended the European Championship in the Team of the Tournament.
It has been a difficult 12 months at Manchester United for the centre-back, but for England, he may be able to show why the Reds broke the world transfer fee for a defender when they signed him from Leicester City.
This year’s World Cup final takes place on December 18 at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. Hopefully, all the players representing Manchester City and Manchester United can do their respective clubs proud.
