Phil Foden bids farewell after confirmed Man City exit news
Phil Foden dedicated numerous posts for Kevin De Bruyne as he announced his decision to leave Man City at the end of the season.
De Bruyne’s departure had been looming throughout the campaign, with his contract set to expire and no real progress made in renewal talks.
His future had been under the spotlight for months, and with his game time reduced, the idea of De Bruyne leaving Man City became increasingly realistic.
The 33-year-old has started just 12 matches in the league this season as Pep Guardiola has struggled to find consistency within his side, who currently sit fifth in the Premier League.
On 4 April, the City legend finally put the speculation to rest as De Bruyne confirmed his decision to leave Man City in the summer. In response, Foden paid tribute with a heartfelt message, celebrating his legacy and influence during their time together at the Etihad.
Phil Foden ‘gutted’ as Kevin De Bruyne confirms Man City exit
Jack Grealish was among those share a message for De Bruyne following the midfielder’s announcement, and now Foden has followed suit with an emotional tribute of his own.
He shared a series of Instagram Stories featuring a collage of memories with the Belgian star. Alongside the photos, he wrote: “Gutted that you’re leaving but so grateful to have shared the pitch with you.”
He added in follow-up stories: “So many great memories together and an inspiration to me on and off the pitch. Let’s make the most of these last months together. Legend.”
Replacing De Bruyne will be no easy task for City, and there’s long been talk of Foden eventually stepping into that role.
However, Man City fans haven’t been impressed with Foden this season, which may lead them into the market this summer.
| Man City statistics | Kevin De Bruyne |
| Appearances | 413 |
| Goals | 106 |
| Assists | 174 |
Man City identify Florian Wirtz as potential De Bruyne successor
De Bruyne joined Man City in 2015, will leave as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history, having won every major domestic honour during his time at the Etihad.
Finding a player of similar influence won’t come easy, but Football Insider revealed that Man City have held talks for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz over a potential summer move.
It’s believed the Wirtz would cost Man City around £100 million, with interest also coming from Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. However, City see the German as a strong candidate to carry the creative burden that will be left behind by De Bruyne.
Whether City go all-in to secure his signature or instead trust their existing squad, potentially giving Foden more central responsibility, remains to be seen.