Ruben Dias says the Manchester City players are determined to give Kevin De Bruyne the send off he deserves.
The attacking midfielder has won every major trophy available since joining City from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015, including six Premier League titles and helping the club claim a first-ever Champions League crown in the 2022/23 campaign.
However, with his contract running down and the club opting against offering him a new one, the Belgian will soon be seeking a new challenge away from the Etihad Stadium.
The De Bruyne farewell tour began on Sunday as he made his last-ever appearance in a largely forgettable Manchester derby which finished goalless at Old Trafford.
Though, with Man City still in contention for Champions League qualification and two trophies, Dias is keen to play his part in adding to the 33-year-old’s already large silverware collection.
Revealing his reaction to De Bruyne’s announcement when speaking to Sky Sports after the derby stalemate, Dias said: "It's not the best news to receive. More than the player he is he's a friend and a very special person to all of us, the club and the fans.
“Right now it's a time to savour every single second we can have him.
"What he's done is special, there are so many adjectives the classify it. Enjoy every moment, we are still in three competitions [including Fifa Club World Cup].
“Try and make it as best as we can, he deserves it, as a member of this team I want it for him more than anything else."
