water in the gas between Pep Guardiola and Kevin de Bruyne?

It’s not just Mohamed Salah who is wondering about his future on the other side of the Channel. Kevin de Bruyne is the other star whose contract ends at the end of the season. But while the Egyptian is once again delighting in a flamboyant Liverpool, the Belgian is champing at the bit on the bench of a Manchester City in total decline. He, the master of the Cityzens game, has not started since September 18 and the reception of Inter Milan in the Champions League. Injured and out during the break, he returned to the group on November 2.

The rest after this ad

Since then, he has had to make do with simple appearances, while his team has suffered a series of disappointments (6 defeats and 1 draw in the last 7 matches). New proof of De Bruyne’s surprising downgrade, his entry into play for only ten minutes during the clash against Liverpool, when the score was already 2-0 for the Reds. Obviously, the situation begins to intrigue.

The departure to Saudi Arabia in question?

“Something is happening with De Bruyne. For me, he has been the best player of the last five seasons. He’s not starting any games… I’m not trying to cause more problems for Manchester City, but something is wrong between these two.”launched for example Jamie Carragher, consultant for Sky Sports. The other star consultant of English TV, Gary Lineker, also suggested the hypothesis of a problem. “There’s something going on here, right?” He’s been coming home for a month to play 5 or 10 minutes.”. Former Manchester City player Micah Richards may have provided part of the answer. “The possibility of De Bruyne going to Saudi Arabia at the end of the year… It seems to me that there is some sort of rift between them”.

The rest after this ad

This is perhaps the heart of the problem. While Guardiola extended his contract until 2027, De Bruyne is waiting to see what he is offered. But Manchester City does not necessarily seem to be in a hurry, even though the player has reached the age of 33 and has the highest salary in the championship, estimated at nearly €25 million per season. The Belgian obviously did not wish to start discussions, he who had not hesitated in 2021 to rely on a data company to justify his request for a salary increase. The rumor of an early departure from the winter transfer window is therefore growing, and it is not Guardiola’s funny management of him which is deflating the emerging unease…