Belgium star is benchmark, according to Wigan Athletic skipper

Morsy was suspended when Latics beat Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round at the DW Stadium in 2018.

But he managed to get up close to De Bruyne when playing for Egypt in a friendly against Belgium just before that summer’s World Cup finals.

And Morsy says he was left bewildered at the level of quality on show from his opposite number.

When asked who had been his toughest opponent, Morsy immediately replied: “Kevin de Bruyne.

“He’s the best midfielder in the world, in my opinion. He’s a very special player, amazing.”

Morsy was also hugely impressed by a player he played against a few weeks later in Russia – Uruguay’s Luis Suarez.

“Suarez was unbelievable too,” Morsy added. “He just plays the game in a different way to the others.”

When asked as to the best player he’d played alongside, Morsy picked Liverpool forward Mo Salah – a team-mate with Egypt – as well as a former Latics colleague.

“Obviously Salah, I’d have to say Salah,” he told the ‘Kingfut’ podcast.

“But at club level, I’d have to say Reece James. He was only a baby when he arrived at Wigan last year, but he’s got a really big future ahead of him.”