Pep Guardiola has expressed confidence that Kevin De Bruyne will be completely honest with himself when deciding on his future at Manchester City. The Belgian midfielder, who has enjoyed a highly successful decade at the club, faces uncertainty as his contract nears its end this summer. De Bruyne, 33, has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, and his form has declined, leading to criticism after his performance in City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Guardiola, who shares a close relationship with De Bruyne, emphasised that the decision will be entirely up to the player, who must consider what is best for his future. “He has to decide, that is the most important thing,” Guardiola said. “He’s completely honest with himself to decide what he feels and what he can do in the next period of his life.”
De Bruyne, a key figure in City’s midfield for years, has been linked with a move to Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League. Guardiola acknowledged the need for squad depth next season, especially with the challenges of the Club World Cup, and suggested that retaining players like De Bruyne could be vital.
“The club has to sign players, but at the same time, we have to keep the players we have as much as possible,” Guardiola added, reflecting on the increasing pressures of the fixture list and the importance of having a larger squad moving forward.
