Manchester City Manager Pep Guardiola admitted he told the club’s legendary midfielder Kevin de Bruyne to leave the Premier League Giants.
After a decade of outstanding years, the team has won a series of major trophies, including the coveted UEFA Champions League and six Premier League titles, Kevin de Bruyne will be separated from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Despite the idea of staying at Manchester City after this summer, Guardiola and club’s outgoing football director Txiki Begiristain have lowered their roles, even as the team goes through a transformation, and ultimately decide not to offer him a new contract.
In his statement, Guardiola emphasized the need for the club to continue to develop. “This decision was made for the club, the club is the club.” He said. “It’s not just my decision; it’s me, Txiki and the club as a whole. It’s where we stand.”
He further acknowledged the huge impact De Bruyne had and pointed to the challenges of trying to replace this outstanding talent.
“The club has to move forward and continue and replicate such players is so difficult,” he said. Guardiola admits. “But these are the qualities and things we have to find.”
