Kevin De Bruyne Expresses Uncertainty Regarding Manchester City Future

Kevin De Bruyne has expressed uncertainty regarding whether the current season will mark his final year with Manchester City, having postponed discussions concerning a contract extension. The 33-year-old Belgium international’s current agreement is set to expire at the conclusion of the season; however, he halted negotiations while recuperating from a thigh injury sustained in September. This season, De Bruyne’s playing time has been restricted to nine appearances. Nevertheless, he has featured as a substitute in Manchester City’s last three fixtures as he works towards regaining full fitness. De Bruyne commented on the situation, stating, “Obviously when I started the season I knew talks would happen but then I had that thing [thigh injury] against Brentford and put that to a side. I was hoping to be out for days but it ended up being eight or nine weeks and I would rather get back first and all the rest will come. I am not too obsessed with things but there is not much I can say. I am fine, I am happy, I just want to play football again and we will see.” He further added, “Talks will come, if no talks come it will be my last year. I just want to play good football.” De Bruyne also mentioned that he had engaged in discussions with the club regarding his future last summer, but “was not in the right frame of mind” to proceed with negotiations following his injury. The captain of the Belgium national team transferred to Manchester City from Bundesliga club Wolfsburg in 2015, in a deal valued at £55 million. Pep Guardiola subsequently joined the club a year later, playing a role in De Bruyne’s development into a central midfielder. Guardiola commented on De Bruyne’s aspirations, stating, “He wants to finish here at his best. I don’t think he will be here when he believes he doesn’t feel he can be the Kevin that can produce and help the team like he has done in the last decade.” The former Chelsea midfielder indicated he was “open to everything” last summer, following reports linking him with a transfer to Saudi Arabia. De Bruyne also stated that a two-year stint in Saudi Arabia would enable him to “earn an incredible amount of money.”