Kevin De Bruyne remains unfazed about his contractual future with Manchester City.
The Belgian midfielder, whose current deal concludes at the season’s end, has his sights set primarily on regaining peak fitness. The 33-year-old endured a disrupted previous season and has been plagued by injuries this term, keeping him from starting a match for over two months.
During a press conference ahead of City’s Champions League clash with Feyenoord, De Bruyne addressed questions about his future, stating:
“Honestly, I’m not sure. At the start of the season, I anticipated discussions taking place. I even had a meeting during the summer, but then the injury occurred. I wasn’t in the right mindset to focus on those matters. Right now, my priority is getting back to my best on the pitch. There’s no urgency.
“I feel comfortable with my situation. Football is my focus, and I’m not overly concerned about other things. Initially, I thought I’d be sidelined for just a few days, but it stretched into eight or nine weeks.”
Injury Challenges This Season
De Bruyne’s fitness struggles have limited him to just three appearances as a substitute since sustaining a pelvic injury during a Champions League encounter against Inter Milan on September 18. He disclosed that the issue initially surfaced in a match against Brentford a week prior.
KEVIN 💬 I can help them [the team] but you can only do so much from the side. It’s frustrating because I know if I was feeling good I could help the team but I wasn't able to do that. I was kind of training but there’s only so much, that’s not a nice feeling. pic.twitter.com/Gg8VMsNPSX
— Manchester City (@ManCity) November 25, 2024
“When the season began, I felt fantastic in the first five games I played,” he explained. “Then, against Brentford, I felt something wasn’t right. Unfortunately, it turned out worse than I had hoped. I couldn’t kick the ball or move the way I needed to for matches.
“It’s been a tough period, but I’m beginning to feel much better, and that’s a relief.”
Pep Guardiola’s Support and Expectations
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed confidence in De Bruyne’s recovery, especially as the team looks to bounce back from a challenging spell of five consecutive losses across competitions. Guardiola acknowledged the player’s age as a factor but stressed his unique contributions to the squad.
“He’s working hard to return to form, but at 33, he’ll need time to regain match fitness and rhythm for 90 minutes,” Guardiola said. “Once he’s back, Kevin will bring us something extraordinary. We absolutely need him.”
Guardiola, who recently extended his own contract, suggested that De Bruyne’s decisions would reflect his commitment to playing at the highest level.
“Kevin will be honest about his future. Whether he stays another season or longer, he’ll want to leave on a high note. He wouldn’t remain here if he felt he couldn’t perform as he has over the past ten years.”
This statement reinforces both the manager’s belief in De Bruyne’s capabilities and the midfielder’s determination to make his mark on the pitch once again.
