Pep Guardiola addresses chances of U-turn on Kevin De Bruyne exit as coach admits ‘it’s almost impossible’ for Man City to replace Belgian playmaker

The Belgian international announced that this season at City would be his last and that he would run down his contract this summer, something he was not entirely happy with. Some fans have hoped that his recent upturn in performances, including the winner against Wolves on Friday, would make the club change their minds. And while manager Guardiola talked up the 33-year-old, it seems a new deal will not be in the offing.

He said about De Bruyne on Sky Sports: “Just thank you. His contribution in the game against Crystal Palace when we were 2-0 down and he delivers and today the goal again. I’m happy that it is finishing that way, and we have one more game in the Etihad.”

On whether his stay could be extended, he replied: “I want the best for Kevin so it cannot be possible to have done these many years without him. He has been an incredible player but the situation is what it is. It’s almost impossible to replace this kind of player. It is not just the performance, it is what he means to the heart for our fans for many, many years. The success we have belongs to the players.”

De Bruyne will go down as City’s greatest-ever player and will make it into many all-time Premier League XI’s because of what he’s done at City over the past decade. But time waits for no man, with the ex-Chelsea player increasingly struggling with injuries, and his consistency is, arguably, not what it was. He is on a huge salary, and as a result, there will be a parting of the ways but there could be one last hurrah this term via the FA Cup.

De Bruyne’s next City game could be away to already relegated Southampton next Saturday in the Premier League.