No matter how good a player is, there will be times when he will part. The story of De Bruyne and Manchester City seems to be coming to an end. It's been nine years since he joined Manchester City in 2015 and at 33 years old, he's no longer young. The ability is still there, but there are too many injuries, so he can only spend more time in the stands to cheer for the team.
Last season, for example, Kevin De Bruyne missed at least 147 days due to injury, and as a result, missed 41 games for Manchester City. No matter how good you are, if you have too many injuries, there are still too few people who can help the team.
Manchester City is about to start the Premier League title race again in the new season, and Manchester City, which has won four consecutive titles, will have more difficulty continuing to win the title this season. If De Bruyne's injury situation cannot be reduced, it will give the rivals more opportunities.
If De Bruyne remains healthy, Pep Guardiola will certainly not choose to sell De Bruyne, after all, it is too difficult to find his replacement. But with one season left on his contract, choosing to send De Bruyne away is not a loss for the club.
According to British media reports, Pep Guardiola has decided to let De Bruyne go, and De Bruyne has also signed a contract with the Saudi league team. It's good for both parties, and De Bruyne could get another big contract at the end of his career.
De Bruyne is of course very important to Manchester City, and the duo of him and David Silva is a fond memory for Manchester City fans forever. With David Silva gone, Kevin De Bruyne has struggled to prop up City for several seasons and no one will forget his credit.
Manchester City have survived the pain of leaving David Silva, and Rodri's rapid growth in the midfield position has made De Bruyne's absence due to injury have less impact on City's overall results. In Rodri's absence last season, he went four games without a win, but he only missed four of them in total, and even De Bruyne could not win.
Rodri also brought that form and role to Spain, helping the team win the European Championship with seven consecutive wins. Rodri's role on the pitch is something that no one can ignore.
With Rodri here, Guardiola can rest assured that De Bruyne will leave. Rodri is only 28 years old and can give Pep Guardiola at least five years to settle for City without Kevin De Bruyne. That's plenty of time for Pep Guardiola, and City are lucky to have one grandmaster after another step up.
This is thanks to Pep Guardiola's coaching, and Manchester City's greatest asset will always be Pep Guardiola himself. Manchester City are very sincere in their treatment of Pep Guardiola, and Guardiola has enough control in Manchester City. When he feels that he can let a core go, he can basically be sure that he has balanced the pros and cons in his heart, and the answer is that he can leave.
In the absence of an official announcement, De Bruyne still has a chance to stay at Manchester City. After all, he is the absolute core of nine seasons, and if he doesn't really want to leave, Manchester City can't force him to leave. After all, in just one season, it will not put pressure on Manchester City in terms of salary at all, and it will not affect Manchester City's plans for recruitment.
De Bruyne is well aware of his physical condition, and sometimes he will be a little emotional when he is replaced early, but Guardiola is always the one who has the say. If he stays, he will accept the status of half main and half substitute, which is a protection for his body and allows him to be fit for more crucial matches.
Time always flies, and if Kevin De Bruyne leaves on a free transfer next season to complete his ten-year contract with Manchester City, it seems like a more satisfying result, and the number of 9 is always a bit regrettable.