Kevin De Bruyne has admitted to being “a little bit” shocked at not being offered a new contract at Manchester City, with the 33‑year‑old saying the club took the decision unilaterally. De Bruyne is also unsure if he will be part of City’s Club World Cup campaign that begins in June in the US.
The Belgian is City’s most decorated footballer with 19 honours and is considered one of the club’s greatest players. Yet De Bruyne, who joined in August 2015 from Wolfsburg, will be forced to depart in the close season after the club did not make a fresh offer.
He was asked if this shocked him. “A little bit, yeah, a little bit,” he said. “I have not had any offer the whole year, they just took a decision. Obviously, I was a bit surprised but I just have to accept it. Honestly, I still think I can perform at this level like I’m showing but I understand clubs have to make decisions.”
The champions are down in fourth place and De Bruyne believes he may have been offered new terms if the title defence had been more robust. “Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year [after injury] and bedded in like normal then maybe they would take another decision.
“I still have a lot to give. Obviously I know I’m not 25 any more but I still feel like I can do my job.”
De Bruyne announced on 4 April that he will leave City. “It’s a bit weird because it’s only been a short time,” he said. “After the decision was taken and when I came out [with this], it was more of a relief when I reported it to the outside world compared to when I knew and nobody else knew.
“You don’t know what to do with the emotion with everybody and how to handle it at the club. Now it’s out, it’s fine. People see the way that I am. I’ve tried to do my best for the club, win games for the team.
“I don’t feel awkward [about it] – in the end it is what it is. have to accept people making decisions. I told them also: ‘I feel like I still have a lot to give.’”
De Bruyne suggested he could play on in the Premier League. “I’m open for anything,” the Belgian said.
“I have to look at the whole picture. I’m looking at sportive, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family. I don’t know what that is, because it depends on when you speak to people and what they say about projects or something. Like I said, I still feel like I can play at a good level, but then after I’ll have to make a decision once I really know a little bit more.”
When asked if he will be part of City’s Club World Cup squad, he said: “I don’t know.”
