Pep Guardiola Expresses Concern Over Kevin De Bruyne’s Future at Manchester City Amid Contract Uncertainty
Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract with Manchester City is set to expire next summer, faces an uncertain future at the club, with manager Pep Guardiola weighing in on the situation.
Guardiola acknowledged that De Bruyne will only want to remain at Manchester City next season if he can return to his peak form. The 33-year-old Belgian has been a key player for City since joining from Wolfsburg for £55 million in 2015, contributing significantly to the club’s success. However, injuries have hampered his progress this season, with his last start being in mid-September during a Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Guardiola expressed uncertainty about De Bruyne’s role next season, stating that the midfielder may not want to stay if he is unable to perform at his best. “I don’t know,” Guardiola said. “Kevin will be honest with himself. He’ll want to finish his career here at his best, and if he feels he can’t contribute in the way he has for the past decade, I doubt he’ll want to stay. Like with David Silva, Kevin will make the decision that’s best for both him and the team.”
De Bruyne himself has been struggling with a lingering abdominal injury that has prevented him from playing at his usual level, causing him significant discomfort. Although he felt better after coming on as a substitute against Tottenham, he remains uncertain about his future.
The Belgian midfielder had initial contract discussions with Manchester City earlier this year but postponed them due to his injury. “I wasn’t expecting to be out for so long,” De Bruyne shared. “It was supposed to be just a few days, but it turned into eight or nine weeks. Right now, I’m focusing on getting better, and once I’m fully fit, we’ll see what happens.”
De Bruyne has stated that while he understands people’s curiosity about his contract situation, he is not overly concerned about it at the moment. “There haven’t been many talks so far,” he said. “If the talks don’t happen, it might be my last year here, but I’m focused on playing well again, and I’ll let the future unfold as it comes.”
