Kevin De Bruyne: Manchester City star says Pep Guardiola deal could influence future amid ‘chaotic’ losing run
Published 25/11/2024 at 18:19 GMT
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne has expressed doubt over his future at the club beyond the end of this season. The Belgian midfielder has revealed talks to extend his current deal have been put on hold following the injury which kept him out of the side for ten games. The 33-year-old's return to fitness is a much-needed boost for City who have lost five matches on the spin in all competitions.
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Kevin De Bruyne has cast further doubts over his future at Manchester City after admitting contract talks were put on hold following his latest injury.
The 33-year-old is in his 10th season at Etihad Stadium, but will see his current deal expire at the end of the current campaign.
Having missed a large chunk of the season through injury, the midfielder is focused on returning to form and fitness before engaging in contract negotiations.
When asked about his future ahead of City's UEFA Champions League tie with Feyenoord on Tuesday, the Belgian told reporters at a press conference: "I honestly don't know.
"At the start of the season, I knew talks would happen but then the thing [injury] happened in Brentford.
"I was hoping to be out a couple of days, and then it was eight-nine weeks. I put it all to the side.
"For the moment, I'd rather get better first and see how I am, the rest will come - I'm not too obsessed with things right now."
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The midfielder added: "I'm not too worried. I'm fine. I'm happy, I just want to play good football again and the future - we'll see.
"Talks will come. If there's no talks, it will be my last year, but I don't know.
"I had a conversation in the summer, but then I had the injury so I wasn't in the right frame of mind to speak about that. I need to be back on the pitch and be myself again.
"There's no rush, I don't feel uncomfortable. I'm not worried."
There had also been significant speculation over Pep Guardiola's future at the club, but the City boss put pen to paper on a new two-year deal last week.
Asked whether this development could change the outcome of his own future, De Bruyne said: "It could help.
"Maybe it would help to have a conversation with Pep to speak about my future. There's an understanding, I know how he works."
The Belgian midfielder missed 10 games across all competitions for Guardiola's side after being withdrawn against Inter Milan in the Champions League in September.
He returned to action late on in City's 4-1 defeat away to Sporting CP at the start of November before appearing from the bench in their recent Premier League defeats against Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur.
Discussing the nature of his injury, De Bruyne said: "It was basically abdomen pain that was going around my groin, so I couldn't really shoot, I've been trying to get my power back.
"It's taken a long time, but on Friday it got better. I can't explain it. The last few days, it's been better. I'm hoping that goes upwards."
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City's three successive defeats in the league have contributed to a run of five defeats across all competitions - their longest losing streak since 2006.
Meanwhile, the 4-0 thumping at the hands of Tottenham on Saturday was their heaviest defeat at the Etihad and equalled Guardiola's biggest margin of defeat as a manager.
"It's been a bit chaotic," said De Bruyne. "I've seen so many people pass around the medical area. There's been so many people playing who shouldn't have been playing.
"The games against Sporting, Brighton and Bournemouth [were] all over the place. Before the Tottenham game seemed alright to me.
"Then we had the defeat, so we just had yesterday that was a bit quiet. I didn't see too much change, everyone is down about the five losses. You have to move on."
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