Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that replacing Kevin De Bruyne will be a monumental task for Manchester City, given the Belgian midfielder’s immense contribution over the past decade.
De Bruyne, a key figure in City’s dominance since joining in 2015, has helped the club secure six Premier League titles and 13 major trophies. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, speculation about a potential move to the Saudi Pro League has grown.
“I would like to have a 23-year-old Kevin and sign a contract for 10 more years,” Guardiola said on Friday. “There are players that impact the legacy of this club, and he will be here forever. It’s not easy to replace him, but when the time comes, we’ll see.”
De Bruyne returned to City’s starting lineup on Wednesday in their 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, ending a seven-game winless streak. It was his first start in nearly three months after recovering from injury.
However, Pep Guardiola expressed concerns about overloading the 33-year-old, especially with City dealing with an injury crisis. Key players, including Phil Foden, Nathan Ake, Rodri, John Stones, Mateo Kovacic, and Oscar Bobb, are unavailable ahead of Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
“We don’t have many players, so we’ll see,” Guardiola added. “It’s important to have him back, but after a long time out, we need to manage him carefully with the games coming thick and fast.”
City will rely on De Bruyne’s creative brilliance as they navigate their injury challenges in a bid to defend their Premier League title.
