Manchester City fans are preparing to lose a club legend this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne has already announced he will be leaving the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires this summer – just shy of a full decade at Manchester City following his arrival from VfL Wolfsburg in August 2015.
Tributes have been pouring in, the suggestion of a statue has already been put to Pep Guardiola, and it really does seem like a special chapter for both the Belgian and Manchester City is drawing to a close.
Now – however – Joe Cole has suggested there could yet be a “twist in the tale” after speaking to Kevin De Bruyne.
Joe Cole has theory about Kevin De Bruyne after Manchester City 5-2 Crystal Palace
The Belgium international shone for Manchester City against Crystal Palace on Saturday, scoring a superb freekick while also grabbing an assist as the Citizens fought back from 2-0 down.
De Bruyne spoke to Cole for TNT Sports after the game, and the Chelsea legend gets the feeling the Manchester City No.17 could be having second thoughts.
Speaking on The Dressing Room Podcast, the 43-year-old said: “Kevin De Bruyne was mesmerising. At his mesmerising best. I think there’s a twist in the tale here with Kevin De Bruyne, we interviewed him after the game and it was very interesting, he was saying that his kids are a bit scared.
“I got the impression from him that he doesn’t want to leave and if the contract offer was right… I’m just speculating, I’m throwing it out there.”
While De Bruyne, who some feel could join Liverpool, may no longer be at his imperious best, he remains a seriously talented footballer who is still proving to be effective in the Premier League – recording ten goal involvements in 22 league games this season.
Not up to Kevin De Bruyne
Cole’s comments are certainly interesting, although it was actually Manchester City who told De Bruyne he would be leaving, not the other way around.
That was confirmed by Guardiola himself, who said: “The decision has been made for the club, and the club is the club. Me, Txiki (Begiristain) and the club, so this is what it is. It was not easy for me to tell him it won’t continue.”
At the time, Manchester City fans were furious to hear that – understandably so given everything De Bruyne has done for the club.
Therefore, regardless of how De Bruyne might be feeling about leaving the Etihad Stadium, it would seemingly require a change of heart from Guardiola to reverse the decision.
