“sensational” Manchester City the player could agree to leave the club in just days, according to a new report.
Man City’s older team proved problematic
Pep Guardiola he may need to be the mastermind behind a major overhaul in January and the summer, given his aging squad have been far off the pace this season and results over the past few months cause for great concern.
Both Kyle Walker and İlkay Gündoğan have been fantastic servants for Man City, but have received their fair share of criticism for failing to reach the heights expected of them so far this season. The duo are in the later stages of their careers, as is Kevin De Bruyne, who has not had his usual impact on games up to this point, amid speculation of a rift between the Belgian and Guardiola.
Guardiola flatly refused rumors of a fall, saying: “People say I have a problem with Kevin. Do you think I like not playing with Kevin? I don’t want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want that? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?
“He has brought me the greatest success for this club. I desperately want to do my best. But he was injured for five months and injured for two months. He is 33 years old. He needs time to find his best.”
While there may be no issues between the 33-year-old and his manager, there are indications that his time at the Etihad Stadium could be coming to an end. According to a report by Football Insider, De Bruyne is now edging closer to leaving Citywith his own A contract worth £400,000 a week expires at the end of the season.
The midfielder is free to talk to other clubs when the January transfer window opens, and a deal could be completed within days, with a move now looking increasingly likely, with San Diego FC touted as a potential destination.
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Why De Bruyne is irreplaceable
It would be very difficult for any potential replacement to emulate what the Belgium international did for Man City over nine trophy-laden nine years.
Praised as “sensational”, the Man City star played a key role in his team Premier League title triumph only last season, even when he supposedly passed his best result, picking up four goals and 10 assists in 18 games.
Although the attacking midfielder has struggled with injuries for some time, he remains one of the first names on the list when fit, and Guardiola’s aforementioned comments show that his manager still thinks very highly of him.
As such, it would be a real shame to see De Bruyne sign for another club this January, but his service to Manchester City has been incredible and no one could fault him for wanting a new challenge at this stage in his career.
