In reaction to rumors that Kevin De Bruyne may be leaving Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has responded with defiance.
With one year left on his current contract, De Bruyne said last month that he and his wife Michele have been talking about their future. This suggests that Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad is interested in signing the Belgian.
The 33-year-old, nevertheless, “isn’t leaving,” Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said reporters prior to the team’s friendly matchup with Celtic in North Carolina.
He said, “We’re going to talk about that if someone leaves.” “Of course, we have opportunities to make transfers until the very last day.
I don’t rule out the possibility of adding new players, but I believe there is an 85,90% chance we will have the same squad.” “I feel at ease because the caliber of people in our squad is hard to replace, and it still exists today.”
‘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.’
In June, De Bruyne told the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws he was fond of the idea of a lucrative pay day in the latter stages of his career.
Kevin De Bryune | Man City Honours
Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
League Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
FA Community Shield: 2019
UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
‘For Michele, an exotic adventure is OK,’ he told the paper. ‘These are also conversations that we are having more and more as a family. I still have one year of contract, so I have to think about what can happen.
‘My eldest (child) is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play at City. Once the time comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way.
‘At my age, you have to be open to everything. You talk about unbelievable amounts in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.
‘If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money.’
De Bruyne signed for City in the summer of 2015 and has won 15 major trophies over the course of a glittering career in England.
City are yet to significantly add to their squad this summer but have been linked with moves for several high-profile midifelders including the likes of Spain’s Euro 2024 hero Dani Olmo as well as Newcastle’s Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes.