Kevin de Bruyne drops bombshell amid Man City mess with ‘my last year’ admission
Kevin De Bruyne has acknowledged that he’s uncertain whether this will be his final season at Man City and revealed that he paused contract negotiations after suffering the injury that has kept him sidelined for the past two months.
As things stand De Bruyne’s contract with Man City is set to expire at the end of the current season. The Belgian midfielder revealed that he had a “conversation” with the club over the summer regarding his future but emphasized that his primary focus now is on returning to his best form after struggling with an abdominal injury.
The 33-year-old hasn’t started a match for City since September 18th, but could return to the starting lineup against Feyenoord on Tuesday (26 November) as City look to arrest a five-game losing streak in the wake of the 4-0 home embarrassment by Tottenham.
“I honestly don’t know,” De Bruyne said in a press conference according to (via ESPN) on Monday when asked about his future.
“At the start of the season, I knew talks would happen but then the thing [injury] happened against Brentford. It was meant to be a couple of days and then it was eight/nine weeks. I put it all to the side. I had a conversation in the summer, but then I had the injury so I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to talk about that. I need to be back on the pitch and be myself again. There’s no rush, I don’t feel uncomfortable, I’m not worried.”
Pep Guardiola was also due to be out of contract in the summer but agreed a two-year extension instead. De Bruyne has hinted that Guardiola’s decision to stay could impact his own, especially after their successful partnership in winning six Premier League titles together.
“It could help, I know what the future holds, I don’t have to speak to Pep about what is happening in the future, if there would be a new coach, you have to speak. Maybe Pep changes his mind and says thank you Kevin it is time to leave, but I know how he works with the team and the players so that is nothing new to me. Questions will come but I can only give you the answers I give at this time. Talks will come, if no talks come it will be my last year. I just want to play good football.”
Man City must keep Kevin de Bruyne
Football Insider Opinion
De Bruyne is not just a player for the Citizens; he is the heartbeat of the team, a symbol of their success over the last decade. As the club’s all-time assist leader and a player who has been instrumental in their most successful years, keeping the Belgian should be a priority for City, despite his recent injury struggles and the uncertainty surrounding his future.
The midfielder’s ability to dictate the tempo of a match and unlock defences with a single pass is unparalleled. His vision, precision, and footballing intelligence make him one of the best midfielders the Premier League has ever seen.
Off the pitch, De Bruyne is a key figure in the dressing room. His leadership and professionalism have been vital in shaping City’s dominant culture under Guardiola. His influence extends beyond the field, and his role as a senior figure in the squad should provide the team with a level of stability that only a player of his stature can bring.
That is all the more vital now that Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been ruled out for the rest of the season with his own injury.
The likes of Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva are all talented, but none have the same ability to single-handedly turn a game with a moment of brilliance like De Bruyne.
The cost of finding a true successor who can replicate his impact would be astronomical and may take years, meaning that the focus should be on retaining him while he’s still capable of contributing at the highest level.
Having provided 26 assists over the past two seasons, and with the team losing their last five matches without him starting, his unique creativity, leadership, and experience make him irreplaceable.
But with both Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan already showing signs of being past it the end may not be far away for the Belgian star at The Etihad either, as he has admitted.
In other news, Man City are working on deal to sign Kyle Walker replacement.
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