Over the last decade, big money moves and transfer sagas have been aplenty at the Etihad. While the talismanic and overarching presence of De Bruyne has been integral to the dominant success of Pep’s men over the last decade, the world does not stand still. A significant part of this success has stemmed from knowing when it’s the right time to bid farewell to club legends. De Bruyne’s recent decision to stay at Manchester City does mean he will ply his trade at the champions next season.
A few weeks ago, it looked like this saga was done and dusted. Al Ittihad was willing to pay the Belgium captain £1million a week for his services. Despite the league’s quality being a few tiers below the Premier League, that amount of money per week is astonishing. If any player said they wouldn’t be interested in that, I’m afraid they’d be telling tales.
The sportsbooks have Man City going into next year as favourites to retain their title. Betting markets are often notoriously difficult to predict. Given how much can unfold throughout a Premier League campaign, many will have been keeping an eye on De Bruyne. The fact that De Bruyne’s decided to stay will have influenced those betting odds. While several variables influence how to choose a sportsbook and where to place a bet, when rifling through the odds at the moment it seems like most bookies have City marginally ahead of Arsenal. Although there is nothing to separate them at all—basically, how last year’s season concluded.
What Can Kevin Offer at 33?
One thing you can’t fault De Bruyne for is his openness. A few weeks ago, he stated that he would be foolish not to consider the Saudi Pro League’s offer. After lengthy conversations with his family, it looks like he has decided to stay at the Etihad. De Bruyne’s decision to stay should see him play for City for at least for another season. Coincidentally De Bruyne’s contract is up at the end of the 24/25 season. It’s one of the reasons we probably can’t move on from the speculation, not yet, anyway.
De Bruyne is aware that his time at the Etihad is coming to an end. Despite being arguably the greatest midfielder to ever play in the Premier League, times change. In the past, Pep has shown that he’s happy to sell players or let them leave as soon as they lose that half-step or don’t fit his ethos. It’s an approach that has backfired with Cole Palmer. But it has proven successful overall. Nobody can argue with Guardiola’s domestic success.
For all of the magic we have witnessed from Kevin since 2015, he is spending more time on the treatment table. That has become a growing concern. With his contract up next year, when he is 34, it looks like it could be De Bruyne’s last season at Manchester City. We’re not writing him off in the slightest; he’s such a complete player that he doesn’t rely on the sort of variables that go first, such as speed.
De Bruyne could potentially play a deeper role in midfield. It’ll be intriguing to see how Pep utilises him as City aims for an unprecedented fifth consecutive league title. De Bruyne’s absence was notable on occasions last season. But you’d think City are better equipped for this going into the new season.
Changing of the Old Guard at City
Manchester City fans understand that players and managers don’t stick around forever. In fact, when Pep took over, nobody envisaged he’d stay this long, in all honesty. Next season could be Pep Guardiola’s last in the dugout at the Etihad. There is also the potential that De Bruyne could also depart. That could be the biggest hit on team chemistry for the best part of a decade.
While City have effortlessly replaced big stars over the last few years—whether it’s been the loss of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, or Vincent Kompany—the team has adapted. While it would be the same if De Bruyne left, pending a suitable globally recognisable replacement, the potential combination of De Bruyne and Pep relinquishing their roles at the end of the season will undeniably impact the team chemistry.
Even some of the names touted to replace De Bruyne, including the two German attacking powerhouses like Florian Witz or Jamal Musala, don’t offer the same sort of threat and number of goal involvements that De Bruyne does. Haaland has worked wonders as a replacement for Aguero; however, with a player as mercurial and attackingly creative as De Bruyne, it is slightly more challenging to find a like-for-like replacement.
Given that City has half a dozen players in their squad who could probably command a top wage in Saudi Arabia, the changing room at City shouldn’t be too fazed by the interest in De Bruyne, nor should his decision to stay impact the team chemistry too much.
Pep’s possible departure and Kevin De Bruyne potentially spending large chunks of the season on the treatment table are far more likely to disrupt the team chemistry. As we saw in stages last season. If these rumours build again during the campaign, this could result in some uncertainty and maybe have a knock-on effect.
However, Guardiola and Kevin are too experienced to allow this to have a significant detrimental impact on the team—this isn’t their first rodeo. If they both depart, it’s only a matter of time before team chemistry is at the forefront of the discussion again.
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