De Bruyne says he was treated harshly by Man City

Kevin De Bruyne deserves to be a monument of Man City - Photo: REUTERS

After the match at Goodison Park, on the way to the waiting bus, Kevin De Bruyne stopped. It seemed like he had something on his mind that he wanted to express.

A shock

The announcement in early April that this season would be the final chapter in Kevin De Bruyne's Man City career quickly made one thing clear: the decision to leave came from the club, not De Bruyne.

"Like it or not, it's time to say goodbye," he wrote tearfully on social media.

During a media interview on Saturday evening (April 5, 2025), De Bruyne could not hide his shock and surprise when Director of Football Txiki Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano briefly announced that his contract would not be renewed. Pep Guardiola was involved in this decision, but he was not directly involved in that fateful meeting.

"It was a bit of a shock," Bruyne said. "I hadn't had any offers from them all year and then the club made the decision. Obviously I was a bit surprised, but I had to accept it. Honestly, I still believe I can play at this level, as I've shown, but I understand that clubs have to make their own choices."

In the days between learning the news and posting his farewell message on social media, De Bruyne admitted that "it wasn't easy".

He has struggled to come to terms with the fact that the coming months will be his last in a City shirt, bringing to an end a decade of deep attachment to Manchester.

"It took me almost a week to say it, and it was a difficult time. My family wasn't home, they were on vacation, so it was even more strange. But that's life," he shared.

"After the decision was made and I made it public, I felt a lot lighter than if I had known it only to myself. You don't know how to deal with that emotion with people and how to handle it at the club. Now it's clear, I'm fine and people understand me. I'm going to do my best and win for the team. I love football, it's as simple as that.

I don't feel awkward. I told them (Begiristain and Soriano) that I still have a lot to give. I know I'm not young anymore, but I still believe I can do my role well," Bruyne affirmed.

While De Bruyne refused to reveal the specific reasons given by City for not offering a contract extension, he believes the difficulties City have experienced this season have played a role, even if he believes they are only temporary.

“That's basically why they made the decision, because the team was struggling,” De Bruyne said frankly.

Kevin De Bruyne leaves Man City after 10 years - Photo: REUTERS

De Buyne has not decided on a new destination yet.

De Bruyne confided: "Maybe if the team didn't have difficulties and I came back like this year, integrating normally, then maybe they would have made a different decision. I still believe that I'm in good form, I've played more than last year.

I don't want to share the exact reasons, because it's basically a club business. And they made a decision based on that. It wasn't a long conversation. The club's leadership just told me their decision, and then nothing more. I have to accept the situation, even though I still feel I can do my job well, but that's all."

Despite having been linked with MLS and the Saudi Pro League, De Bruyne has not ruled out joining another Premier League club when he becomes a free agent in June 2025.

De Bruyne's contract with Man City will officially expire during the Club World Cup, but he still does not know whether he will be able to participate in the tournament in the US.

Otherwise, his final match for Man City will be against Fulham on May 25. The match marks the end of a golden era, where De Bruyne and Man City conquered all the peaks, including 6 Premier League titles and the prestigious Champions League trophy.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-bruyne-ke-bi-man-city-doi-xu-phu-phang-20250421154423771.htm