KEVIN DE BRUYNE has announced he’s LEAVING Manchester City at the end of the season.
The Belgium international’s future at the Etihad has been the subject of intense speculation for several months.
His £375,000-a-week contract with the Premier League champions expires at the end of the season.
And in an emotional statement on social media, the club legend has confirmed his trophy packed ten-year love affair with the Sky Blues will end in the summer.
The 33-year-old said: “Dear Manchester. Seeing this, you’ll probably realise where this is heading.
“So I’ll get straight to it and let you know that these will be my final months as a Manchester City player.
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“Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes.
“That day is here – and you deserve to hear it from me first. Football led me to all of you – and to this city.
“Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This city, this club, these people… gave me EVERYTHING.
“I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won EVERYTHING.
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“Whether we like it or not, it’s time to say goodbye. Suri Rome, Mason, Michele and I are beyond grateful for what this place has meant to our family.
“Manchester will forever be home on our kids’ passports – and more importantly, in each of our hearts. This will always be our HOME.
” We cannot thank the city, club staff, team-mates, friends and family enough for this ten-year ride.
“Every story comes to an end, but this has definitely been the best chapter.
“Let’s enjoy these last moments together! Much love, KDB.”
De Bruyne – who is considered by many to be the greatest Premier League midfielder of all-time – has been linked with a move to several clubs.
A move to the MLS with San Diego FC has been mooted, although the American club recently distanced itself from the proposed transfer.
KDB has attracted interest from a number of Saudi Pro League clubs – including second-division side Neom SC – over the last year.
The midfielder opened the door to a move to The Kingdom last summer, saying: “At my age, you have to be open to everything.
“You’re talking about incredible amounts of money 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.
“Before that, I had to play football for 15 years. I may not even reach that amount yet.
“Then you have to think about what that could mean next. But at the moment I haven’t had to think about that yet.”
Merson jibe
De Bruyne joined City from Wolfsburg, who he got his career back on track with following a torrid spell with Chelsea, in the summer of 2015.
City splashed out a then club-record fee of £55million to acquire his services, a figure many – most notably Paul Merson – baulked at.
But that financial outlay proved to be worth its weight in gold, and then some, as De Bruyne would go on to establish himself as a Prem great.
In 413 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s troops, the Belgian has scored an impressive 106 goals.
But more impressively, he’s racked up a whopping 174 assists – the SECOND-MOST in Premier League history – behind only Ryan Giggs.
De Bruyne will leave the Etihad having won everything the English top flight has to offer.
He’s lifted the Premier League trophy six times, the FA Cup twice and the Carabo Cup five times.
But perhaps the achievement he’ll be most proud of when he looks back on his time at Eastlands will be his lifting of the Champions League trophy in the 2022/23 season, in which City won a historic treble.
Speaking today, City boss Guardiola called him one of the greatest to ever player for Man City.
He said: “A sad day. A happy day for the fact that the pleasure personally that I lived this time with him. What he gave all of us, his humanity and of course I don’t have to say his influence on our success in the last decade.
“It would be impossible to imagine that without him. A sad day because a part of us is leaving.
“I read he’s been involved in 180 goals in terms of goals and assists. He’s one of the greatest midfielders that have ever played in this country.
“You always have to be careful because of respect for the players who were at Maine Road and the last 20-30 years but come on, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest. He had injury problems for the last year and a half but his consistency in important games being there every three days.”
Club World Cup confusion
Guardiola also revealed there is uncertainty over whether De Bruyne will play in this summer’s Club World Cup.
He revealed: “I don’t know. We have to talk, the Club World Cup we have to extend the contract. He has to decide.
“Hopefully he can continue playing football in another place, but I don’t know. The club has to talk to him and he has to say what he wants to do.”
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The tournament, which runs from mid June to mid July will see KdB’s contract expire half way through as things stand.
Guardiola added: “It’s the first time he plays this competition and at the end of the first three games he is still under contract but after that if we go through I don’t know. Kevin has to tell and after that for the fact that the future can it be legally possible or not.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
