Man City boss Guardiola says it was the club’s decision to let De Bruyne leave | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has opened up on Kevin De Bruyne’s impending exit, suggesting that it was a decision made by the club to let him depart.

The Belgian star has spent the last decade with Man City and has been pivotal in the unprecedented successes at the club.

However, it has now been announced that he will not continue with the club after his contract expires at the end of June.

Although De Bruyne has struggled for fitness in the past two seasons, many still expected that the City legend would be offered the chance to continue with the club. Guardiola, however, revealed: “I had to take a decision, the club had to take a decision, it’s not easy for anyone.

“The decision has been made for the club. And the club is the club. Me, Txiki and the club. So this is what it is.”

De Bruyne is the last remaining player that has been at the club longer than Guardiola. The Catalan will now have to find a replacement for the two-time Premier League Player of the Year and four-time Manchester City Player of the Year.

And Guardiola admitted: “The club has to move forward, move on. And of course, replicating these numbers and these kind of things is so difficult.

“We’ll see how the squad finishes at the end of the season. He’s the only player that finishes his contract. The rest are still under contract.

“The club or myself, we haven’t decided yet exactly what we have to do. But of course it’s difficult.”

For a longtime, City’s academy graduate Phil Foden was earmarked as the natural successor to De Bruyne. With the Belgian sidelined for most of last season, Foden excelled and had the best campaign of his career. He led City to a fourth consecutive Premier League title and was recognised as the league’s Player of the Year.

Despite this, Guardiola does not view Foden as the heir to De Bruyne’s throne.

“They have played together in the last years many, many times,” he said. “They play together.

“So the specific quality from Kevin, we don’t have that player in our squad. We don’t have it.”

He continued: “Phil has other attributes that are also difficult to find in our squad.

“You don’t have a player that has to do the role from Kevin. Everyone has to do his own role, his skills, his quality. This is what you have to do.”

De Bruyne will leave City after playing a key role in six league titles, a treble, a domestic treble and many more triumphs.

It now seems that a lack of fitness is a factor in his departure from the club. City’s boss explained: “So at the end he is injured in the last year and a half. A lot of time out injured because he gave everything for the club.

“It happened because he has done everything. Everything he had in his body, in his mind, he has done it. So there’s no doubt about that.

“The club gave everything to him. I think he expressed it perfectly, but he gave everything to us.

“There are players that are unique. They represent what the club wants to be and Kevin is one of them.

“And to say bye to these type of players, for the club, is so difficult. Because I would love Vinny (Kompany) to be eternal here. And Sergio (Aguero) to be eternal here, and now Kevin.”