“Everything depends on money,” said the Belgian star with a hint of regret, as he prepares to leave the English club at the end of the season.
Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne, who is set to part ways with the club, has expressed his surprise at not receiving a new contract offer. The Belgian midfielder believes the decision may have been driven by business considerations from the club’s side.
Earlier this month, De Bruyne confirmed that his decade-long chapter at Manchester City will come to an end after the current season.
Following City’s 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, the 33-year-old opened up to reporters about how he felt after not being offered a new deal—saying he was surprised, but has come to accept it.
“It wasn’t nice. When they told me (about the decision), my family wasn’t home. They were away on an Easter holiday, so it was a bit of a strange moment for me. Anyway, it is what it is. I don’t think I should go into details, because in the end, it’s their business thinking—it’s how they’ve made their decision.”
“To be honest, there wasn’t a long discussion. They just informed me of the decision and that was it. I have to accept it.”
De Bruyne has been a pivotal figure at City, scoring 107 goals and assisting 177 times in 416 appearances—120 of those assists coming in the Premier League, the second-highest in league history. Despite battling injuries and inconsistency this season, he still managed to feature in 23 league games.
Since joining City in 2015, De Bruyne has played a crucial role in their domestic dominance, helping them win six Premier League titles and finally lift the long-elusive Champions League trophy.
“Throughout the whole year, I didn’t receive any offer. They just made a decision. Of course, I was a little surprised, but I had to accept it. Honestly, I still believe I can perform at this level, like I’ve been doing.”
“I honestly don’t care. The decision has been made, and like always, I just want to play football. Now I have to look forward, start talking to people, and see what’s next.”
