Pep Guardiola has praised Kevin De Bruyne as one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League following the Belgian’s announcement that he will be leaving Manchester City at the end of the current season.
De Bruyne, 33, has been pivotal in Manchester City’s dominance in English football since joining the club from Wolfsburg for £55 million ($72 million) in 2015. During his time at the Etihad Stadium, he has helped the club secure 14 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League victory in 2023.
With 106 goals and 174 assists from 413 appearances, De Bruyne’s contributions have cemented his legacy as one of the finest midfielders in Premier League history. Guardiola, reflecting on the Belgian’s impact, stated, “He is one of the greatest midfielders ever to play in this country and for this club – there is no doubt.”
Guardiola further emphasized De Bruyne’s role in City’s trophy-laden years, noting that the 33-year-old has been a key part of every major triumph, saying, “We’ve won a lot of trophies and he’s been involved in every single one.”
While De Bruyne’s influence on the pitch has waned in recent seasons due to injuries, Guardiola highlighted the consistency and reliability he showed during his peak years. The midfielder missed five months last season due to a hamstring injury and has started just 21 out of City’s 47 matches this season. Despite this, Guardiola praised De Bruyne’s ability to perform consistently in crucial games over the years. “His assists, goals, vision in the final third are so difficult to replace,” Guardiola said, acknowledging the difficulty in finding a player who can replicate his contributions.
Guardiola also noted that De Bruyne’s consistency, particularly in important games, made him unique. “Every three days, being there all the time… that’s what made him stand out.”
As Manchester City continues to celebrate its successes since the Abu Dhabi-backed takeover in 2008, other club legends like Vincent Kompany, David Silva, and Sergio Aguero have been immortalized with statues outside the Etihad. Guardiola expects De Bruyne to receive similar recognition. “I would bet a lot of money that it is going to happen, that’s for sure. He deserves to be in this level,” the City boss said.
The exact timing of De Bruyne’s departure remains uncertain, as he is set to leave at the end of the Premier League season, but could potentially continue playing for City in the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13. Guardiola was unsure about whether the midfielder would play beyond the Premier League season, stating, “He has to decide, it’s a new competition. I hope he can continue to play football in another place, but it depends on risk and contracts for the future. The club has to talk to him, and he has to say what he wants to do.”
