Revealed: Big De Bruyne update ahead of new Man City season – sources
Man City superstar Kevin de Bruyne is set to miss the start of the 2023-24 campaign through injury, sources have told Football Insider.
The 32-year-old was forced off in the first half of City’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan last month with a hamstring tear.
It is now believed the injury could keep De Bruyne sidelined for the beginning of next season – which begins with the Community Shield against Arsenal on 6 August.
Another trophy will be on the line in the opening weeks of the season when City face Sevilla in Greece for the UEFA Super Cup on 16 August.
Speaking after the Champions League final in Istanbul, De Bruyne revealed he had been playing through injury for two months.
He said: “I’ve been told for two months there’s a possibility I was at risk but you take it. I missed I would say a fair amount of games but it was all small ruptures but today I snapped it all the way so I wasn’t able to go on.”
De Bruyne’s potential layoff adds an extra headache for Pep Guardiola and his pre-season preparations.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (3 July) that Man City are growing more and more pessimistic about the possibility of keeping Bernardo Silva at the club this summer.
It is believed Silva is the subject of a “mind-boggling” offer from a Saudi Arabian club as they step up the process of increasing their league’s image.
De Bruyne made 49 appearances in the 2022-23 campaign, notching 10 goals and 31 assists.
He is one short of 100 caps for Belgium – and missed out on the landmark occasion with the injury during Euro 2024 qualifiers last month.
The midfield star is under contract until June 2025 – by which time he will be 34 years old.
In other news, Man City to reject permanent youngster offer.