Kevin De Bruyne: Manchester City created a ‘stressful’ contract situation | OneFootball

Manchester City’s hesitancy to discuss the possibility of a new contract with Kevin De Bruyne created a “stressful” situation for the Belgian midfielder.

The 34-year-old officially joined Serie A champions Napoli earlier this summer following the expiry of his Manchester City contract, bringing an end to a historic spell at the Etihad Stadium that included six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League triumph.

While Kevin De Bruyne’s departure was confirmed well before the summer window opened, the Belgian has now offered personal insight into how events unfolded behind the scenes during his final months in Manchester.

Throughout the 2024/25 campaign, speculation around De Bruyne’s future intensified amid fitness setbacks and a reduced role under Pep Guardiola. While he remained influential when fit, City’s strategic shift – including younger midfield arrivals like Tijjani Reijnders and Nico González – seemed to signal a longer-term evolution.

De Bruyne’s contract ran down without talks of a renewal, despite his consistent message last season that he was open to staying. The decision from Manchester City balanced squad evolution and financial discipline with sentiment; a pattern seen in exits like İlkay Gündoğan and Riyad Mahrez in recent years.

Now speaking during his first media commitments as a Napoli player earlier this week, Kevin De Bruyne opened up on the process of being released by City last season, after the Etihad club rejected the possibility of offering the 34-year-old a new contract.

“It’s the first time I’ve been in a situation where I was (a) free (agent),” De Bruyne admitted. “I’ve always had a contract. So it was always easy for me [previously]. Every summer, I was just easy. I was good.”

The Manchester City and Premier League icon added, as per The Athletic’s James Horncastle, “The longer the (2024/25) season went on with nothing going on, it was a bit stressful, because it’s a very new situation.”

De Bruyne’s comments now put into sharp focus what many suspected during the latter part of the campaign, having little clarity on whether he would remain a Manchester City player beyond the season.

Despite ongoing fan hopes for a farewell deal or even a coaching transition, the club opted against extending his stay, leaving Kevin De Bruyne to navigate free agency for the first time in his career.

Napoli’s ambitious project, including significant backing from their ownership and somewhat of a squad overhaul, presented De Bruyne with an attractive next step. His arrival has been viewed in Naples as a signal of intent, especially off the back of Serie A success last time out.

From Manchester City’s perspective, the De Bruyne exit forms part of a wider generational turnover, with uncertainty also surrounding İlkay Gündoğan’s role, and several midfielders now expected to take on greater responsibility. The departure, while emotional, could offer tactical and financial flexibility, especially amid a summer where outgoings are being carefully managed alongside incomings.

What remains clear is that while City may have viewed the decision as a necessary evolution, the departure left one of their most iconic players in a surprisingly uncertain position, something that could spark wider reflection as other key squad figures approach the final stages of their own Etihad journeys.