Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, was caught in an uncomfortable situation when asked about why Kevin De Bruyne isn’t being kept at the club, despite his recent impressive form.
Guardiola showered De Bruyne with praise, expressing his gratitude for the Belgian star’s contributions, but was visibly uneasy when the subject turned to why De Bruyne isn’t being offered a new contract. If the midfielder is in such great form, why isn’t he being retained by the club?
De Bruyne scored the winning goal in Manchester City’s 1-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Friday. At the 35th minute, the 33-year-old midfielder secured the match with a brilliant goal, although Manchester City only managed to keep 64% possession and took nine shots, with only two on target.
The three points gained are crucial for Manchester City’s quest for a Champions League spot next season, placing them third in the league with 64 points from 35 matches. With teams like Newcastle United, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest also in the race, every point is valuable.
De Bruyne’s contribution was pivotal in securing those points. After the match, Guardiola praised him, saying, “I’ll just say ‘thank you’ to him. His performance against Crystal Palace when we were 2-0 down was incredible, and today he scored the goal that gave us the win. I’m very happy that he’s ending his time here this way. We have one more game at the Etihad, and I hope he plays well.”
Guardiola’s praise was clear, but when asked why the club hasn’t offered De Bruyne a new contract, he seemed uncomfortable. Without directly addressing the issue, he focused on De Bruyne’s impact at the club.
“I wish Kevin all the best,” Guardiola said. “So much would not have been possible without him. He’s an incredible footballer, but the situation is what it is…”
Guardiola highlighted that finding a replacement for such a footballer would be nearly impossible. “It’s not just about his performances, it’s the place he has in the hearts of so many of our supporters. All of our success is thanks to the players.”
De Bruyne has won 16 trophies since joining Manchester City in 2015, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first-ever Champions League. He has played a pivotal role in each of those achievements and has been named Premier League Player of the Year twice.
Despite spending a decade at the club, De Bruyne has previously expressed his frustration about not receiving a new contract offer from Manchester City. After the match, he again conveyed his disappointment, saying, “A lot of my teammates have said that they’re sad that I’ll be leaving. But sometimes life is like that. The way I’m performing and the chemistry with my teammates… I’m giving everything and trying to win matches. That’s why I’m still able to play at this level, otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to play like I have in the last four or five weeks.”
While his future destination remains uncertain, there are strong rumors that he might move to the United States, with Chicago Fire being a potential new club for him.
