One of the greatest
“He’s one of the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said City manager Pep Guardiola.
“His assists, his goals, his vision in the final third, it’s so difficult to replace. What he’s done here for the past decade has been outstanding.”
De Bruyne’s contract is due to expire at the end of June but it remains unclear whether he will continue to see out his days as a City player at the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 until July 13.
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter,” De Bruyne added. “Let’s enjoy these last moments together!
De Bruyne has been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League or Major League Soccer in the United States.
The City captain’s influence has diminished in recent seasons due to injury problems.
He missed five months last season due to a hamstring tear.
This season he has made just 21 starts in City’s 47 matches in all competitions despite the struggles of Pep Guardiola’s side to match the standards they have set over the past decade.
City sit fifth in the Premier League, 22 points behind leaders Liverpool, and were comfortably beaten 6-3 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off round.
De Bruyne has won over 100 caps as part of Belgium’s golden generation that finished third at the 2018 World Cup and quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and 2020, but fell short of the country’s first ever major tournament win.
After breaking through at Genk in his homeland, De Bruyne’s first experience of the Premier League did not go well as he was discarded by Chelsea after just nine appearances for the Blues.
