Kevin De Bruyne officially announced his Manchester City departure will happen during the 2024-2025 season.
The Belgian superstar expressed uncertainty about his availability date for returning to the pitch during in interview.
“I don’t know. For me, it will depend on whatever happens in the future, you know, depending on what team I’ll go to and what competition I’ll play in.” De Bruyne said.
“Also, if the new team doesn’t want me to play and doesn’t want to risk whatever happens.
“I haven’t really spoken to City about it, so I don’t know. If they want to have a conversation, we can. But I’m not sure about this.” De Bruyne added.
When De Bruyne signed with City from Wolfsburg at age 24 he became a foundational player who would transform into one of the premiere midfielders in Premier League history.
Since his arrival, Manchester City has won 16 titles including six Premier League championships along with five Carabao Cups and victories in two FA Cups and two Community Shields and a Champions League trophy.
The 33-year-old midfielder has achieved Premier League Player of the Season designation twice during the seasons 2019-20 and 2021-22.
“Seeing this, you probably realise where this is heading,” De Bruyne said in a post on social media on Friday.
“So I’ll get straight to it and let you all know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.”
Manchester City has transformed De Bruyne into one of the greatest midfielders to ever grace the nation in Pep Guardiola’s duty.
“One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country, and I think with Manchester City, there is no doubt,” Guardiola said.
“Greatest not The Greatest, always you have to be careful with players that played at Maine Road [City’s former stadium], incredible players in the last 20-30 years in this club [too].” Guardiola added.
According to the Spaniard manager he learned about De Bruyne’s departure several days earlier yet Friday’s announcement brought mixed emotions.
“A sad day. A happy day for the fact that [I had] the pleasure personally [to] live with him,” Guardiola said.
“He gave all of us his humility and with his influence in our success in the last decade, that would have been impossible to imagine without him.” he added.
