Man City Legend De Bruyne Set to Depart After Decade of Excellence

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the club made the decision not to offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract, ending the Belgian's remarkable 10-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium. Despite De Bruyne reportedly being open to staying with a reduced role, Guardiola revealed the decision came from club leadership.

"The decision has been made for the club, and the club is the club," Guardiola explained. "Me, Txiki [Begiristain], and the club, so this is what it is."

The 33-year-old midfielder departs as City's most decorated player, having been instrumental in the club's unprecedented era of success. His creativity, vision, and technical brilliance helped transform City into a dominant force in English and European football.

Guardiola acknowledged the immense challenge of replacing a player of De Bruyne's caliber: "The club has to move forward, move on, and replicating this kind of player is so difficult. Some things can't be substituted, they are so important."

This departure represents another significant transition for City, following other club legends like Sergio Aguero. Guardiola drew parallels between these situations, noting that while Erling Haaland arrived to replace Aguero's goals, certain players leave irreplaceable legacies.

De Bruyne subtly hinted at the club-driven nature of his exit in his announcement, stating: "Whether we like it or not, it's time to say goodbye."

The Belgian is expected to attract interest from Saudi Arabian clubs and MLS teams, with news suggesting lucrative offers already on the table. His departure marks the end of an era for City but aligns with Guardiola's philosophy of continual squad evolution to maintain the team's competitive edge.

For City fans, De Bruyne will forever remain one of their greatest players, whose vision and passing ability defined an era of unprecedented success.