During his time on the board at City, it coincided with the signing of Kinkladze. A player well known for his moments of flair and magic, Kinkladze played for City between 1995 and 1998.
On his memories of a player who never quite reached his potential, Bernstein told Tribalfootball.com: As a talent (and an) entertainer he obviously rates very highly. He was a great player to watch but he had his limitations."
Asked if one of City's great heroes could find a place in today's Treble winnig team, Bernsntein was adamant.
He continued: As a team player he didn't give Joe Royle what he felt he needed, he didn't work hard enough and all those things that are part of the game and I suspect that unless he upped his game in a lot of respects, he wouldn't make it in a Pep Guardiola team however talented he was.
But in the end, we parted ways with him because he didn't contribute in enough ways to the team."
Kinkladze would eventually be sold to Ajax, where he didn't quite manage to reach the heights he enjoyed at times in a City shirt.
Cycle forward to today and while Bernstein enjoyed watching the Georgian as a City player, he finds any comparison of Kinkladze to Kevin De Bruyne insulting.
I think I have been asked how does he compare with Kevin De Bruyne for example? But I don't he does, I think he was a great talent and a great player to watch but Kevin De Bruyne is a great player in every respect, at the highest level," says the former chairman.
"Remember City were playing in a lower level completely than where this club is playing. Kevin De Bruyne stands out at the very highest level of the game so I don't think you can compare them."
- We Were Really There, The Rebirth of Manchester City by David Bernstein, with Tim Rich, out now from Pitch Publishing.
- adapted by Harry Dunnett