Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is a Premier League icon, with six league titles and multiple PFA Player of the Year awards under his belt. However, at 33 years old, he is in the final year of his contract at Manchester City, and injuries are becoming more frequent.
This has led to a reduced role for De Bruyne this season as he manages ongoing hamstring issues. However, questions are being raised about why he finds himself on the bench even when fully fit, as was the case in a crucial 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield, where De Bruyne was only introduced in the 78th minute.
Gary Neville voiced his confusion on his official podcast, saying, “The situation with De Bruyne is unusual, even bizarre. Why isn’t the best player in the Premier League over the last decade playing? We know about his injuries, but why isn’t he out there when he’s fit? He’s a leader, confident, brilliant – something is definitely happening behind the scenes.”
Neville speculated that Pep Guardiola, who has full control at the club and recently extended his contract, might be preparing for changes in the January or summer transfer windows. “Guardiola has built two incredible teams at City, and he’s likely already planning for his third,” Neville added.
This sentiment is echoed by former Premier League defender Jamie Carragher, who told Sky Sports, “Something’s off with De Bruyne. He’s been the best player in the league for the last five seasons, but he isn’t starting games, and he doesn’t come on at half-time either. I’m not trying to stir trouble, but there’s something wrong between him and Guardiola. It’s sad because we’re talking about one of the greatest managers and one of the best players in Premier League history. If he’s fit and not playing, something’s not right.”
Micah Richards, a former Manchester City defender, also weighed in on the issue during The Rest is Football podcast, saying, “This goes back to before the international break. He got some minutes but hasn’t started since. He’s the one who can unlock a defense. We know De Bruyne needs to be carefully managed, but in a big game like this, it’s strange. There are talks about him potentially moving to Saudi Arabia at the end of the year, and it seems like there’s a rift between him and Guardiola.”
De Bruyne, who will mark a decade of service at City in 2025, has made nearly 400 appearances for the club and helped secure 16 trophies during an era of remarkable success. With his contract winding down, rumors of a move to the Saudi Pro League are beginning to surface.
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne
BelgiumThis season he played in total 7 times for 401 minutes for Premier League.
Kevin De Bruyne scored 1 goal for Manchester City. He procured one assist. He received 2 yellow cards and no red cards.
His team is currently 5th in Premier League. In the last match Manchester City lost 2-0 against Liverpool. The next match in Premier League will be against Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City performance and stats
Manchester City is currently 5th in the Premier League with 23 points.
In the last 13 games, it has won 7 times, drew twice, and lost 4 times. In its last match, Manchester City lost 2-0 against Liverpool.
It has a positive goal difference after scoring 22 goals and conceding 19.
Manchester City will play the next match in Premier League against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday 4th of December in Manchester. The prediction is Manchester City winning the match.
