Kevin De Bruyne Stays with Manchester City, Confirms Coach Pep Guardiola
New Delhi [India], July 23: Amidst rumors, head coach Pep Guardiola confirmed on Tuesday that star Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will not be leaving Manchester City in the upcoming season. In recent days, there have been rumors that De Bruyne has been in contact with Saudi Pro League club Al Ittihad and is looking forward to making a shocking transfer after spending almost nine years with the club.
Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s friendly game against Celtic in North Carolina, Guardiola said that if someone leaves the club, then the club will talk to them. He added that there’s an 85 to 90 percent chance that they will have the same squad. “Kevin is not going. If someone leaves, we’re going to talk about that. Of course, until the last day, we have chances (to make transfers), I don’t rule out the option to have new players but I think there is an 85/90 per cent chance we will have the same squad,” Guardiola was quoted as saying.
He further added that the quality of players they have currently in the squad will be “difficult” to replace. Guardiola added that the club management will decide to sign if some players leave. “I feel comfortable, because the quality of human beings we have in the squad is difficult to be replaced, and the quality is there. But we’ll see, I don’t know in the last moment if someone comes for some players and they leave, we’re going to decide,” he added.
De Bruyne displayed a disappointing performance in the recently concluded EURO 2024. He scored just one goal after playing four matches in the marquee tournament. The midfielder also attempted an assist in the game. However, De Bruyne played an important role in Manchester City’s Premier League win in the 2023-24 season, even after being sidelined for the first half of the season due to an injury. He scored four goals and attempted 10 assists after playing 18 matches in the Premier League.
Doubts Revealed
Kevin De Bruyne -: Kevin De Bruyne is a famous football player from Belgium who plays as a midfielder. He is known for his excellent passing and playmaking skills.
Manchester City -: Manchester City is a football club based in Manchester, England. They play in the English Premier League, which is one of the top football leagues in the world.
Pep Guardiola -: Pep Guardiola is the head coach of Manchester City. He is considered one of the best football managers in the world and has won many trophies with different teams.
Saudi Pro League -: The Saudi Pro League is the top professional football league in Saudi Arabia. It features teams from different cities in Saudi Arabia.
Al Ittihad -: Al Ittihad is a football club based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They play in the Saudi Pro League and are one of the most successful clubs in the country.
EURO 2024 -: EURO 2024 is a major football tournament for national teams in Europe. It is organized by UEFA and happens every four years.
Premier League -: The Premier League is the top football league in England. It features 20 teams and is one of the most popular and competitive leagues in the world.
Assists -: In football, an assist is a pass or action that helps another player score a goal. It is an important statistic for playmakers like Kevin De Bruyne.