Kevin De Bruyne will not extend his stay at Manchester City to play at the Club World Cup this summer. De Bruyne’s contract is due to expire at the end of June – midway through the summer tournament.
The Belgian’s 10-year stint at the Etihad Stadium is coming to an end, with his exit coming as a surprise to some – including De Bruyne himself. He delivered a pointed assessment of the club chiefs, questioning the decision to let him leave, and doubt is being cast on his Club World Cup involvement.
As revealed by the Daily Star Sport, De Bruyne is reluctant to play and risk an injury which might hamper his chance of finding a new club, and is also unhappy with how his imminent departure was handled. He will be obliged to travel to the US for the start of the tournament in mid-June, with his contract not expiring until the 30th, but is said to hope the club will understand his situation when he holds further talks.
Teams involved in the Club World Cup are permitted to seek special dispensation to continue using players in situations like that faced by De Bruyne. There have also been changes made to Premier League transfer rules, with teams permitted to sign players between June 1-10 before the window opens in earnest later that month.
City manager Pep Guardiola recognised the situation facing De Bruyne is a complex one. He said the decision will need to be made by the 33-year-old after discussions with the club, and no such decision has been made at the time of writing, but if he doesn’t play at the Club World Cup then his final City game will be the last game of the Premier League season on May 25 against Fulham.
“I think he has to decide, he has to talk, because now with the World Cup, it’s a new contract, legally, you know,” Guardiola said in early April. “If he can continue playing football in another place, it depends on the risk, playing there for the contracts, or injuries, or the future. So, honestly, I don’t know. I think the club has to talk to him, or he has to say what he wants to do.”
City’s Club World Cup campaign begins against Moroccan side Wydad on June 18, nearly a month after the final Premier League match of the season. Their group is completed by Al Ain and Juventus, with all three group games scheduled for before the end of June.
“It was Txiki [Begiristain] and Ferran [Soriano] who told me,” De Bruyne said, referencing the club’s outgoing sporting director and current CEO respectively. He said he didn’t feel awkward about the pair being nearby as he explained the situation, but did say he felt he can still deliver at the highest level.
“In the end it is what it is,” he continued. “You have to accept people taking decisions. I told them also that I still think I had a lot to give. Obviously I know I’m not 25 anymore but I feel like I’m doing my job.
“It came as a bit of a shock. I’m open for anything (including staying in the Premier League). I have to look at the whole picture, sporting, the family, everything together, what makes the most sense for my family.
“I don’t know what it is. It depends on when you speak to people about projects and things. I know I can play at a good level. I have to make that decision once I really know more (of the offers).”
Clubs in Europe, Saudi Arabia and the United States are understood to be keen on signing De Bruyne on a free transfer. Inter Miami hold the player’s discovery rights if he does choose to move to Major League Soccer, though this doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll end up with the Florida club.
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