Kevin de Bruyne has accepted that he will only play a supporting role next season. Even coach Pep Guardiola needs to decide whether to keep De Bruyne at the Etihad or not.
De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in Premier League history. The Belgian player has had a series of incredible performances to help Man City win 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and 1 Champions League.
But after 10 seasons with The Citizens, De Bruyne is 33 years old and seems to be in decline in form. Therefore, the 33-year-old midfielder's future at the Etihad is uncertain as his contract is set to end this summer.
De Bruyne has started less than half of Man City's Premier League games this season. This is a sign that he can no longer meet the requirements of Guardiola's harsh system.
The harshness of the fixtures has also affected De Bruyne after he has suffered a number of injuries in recent years. De Bruyne himself has also acknowledged his limitations.
According to British media, the player born in 1991 wants to stay at Man City after his contract ends. However, he will turn 34 just a few days before his contract expires this summer. Man City need to make a big decision on whether to provide him with new terms or not. De Bruyne currently receives a salary of around £400,000 a week.
De Bruyne was unexpectedly made in the first place for Man City in the match against Liverpool, but could not make an impact. Therefore, Guardiola took De Bruyne off to make way for James McAtee, a less experienced player. This is a damning moment for the midfielder.
De Bruyne has a very close relationship with Guardiola. The two shed tears together when hugging each other after the 2023 Champions League final.
Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz is the main target of The Citizens. The midfielder is considered a worthy replacement for De Bruyne after scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists this season.
Guardiola will decide whether De Bruyne will be in his plans. Will Man City play better when entering the new era with a younger squad? Notably, MLS' San Diego, along with a host of Saudi Arabian clubs, are ready to provide the Belgian with a generous salary.
De Bruyne has played 409 times for Man City since his move from Wolfsburg in 2015. The midfielder has scored 105 goals and had 173 assists.
