Kevin de Bruyne can add another honor to his transport as a most decorated player in Manchester City of all time with an appropriate farewell during the FA Cup final on Saturday against Crystal Palace. The decade of Belgian trophies in Manchester will end at the end of the Premier League season. But Wembley’s centerpiece is the last chance of the 33 -year -old to raise silverware at the club where he became one of the best players in the world. Six times winner of the Premier League, from Bruyne could add a third FA Cup to his five championship cups and in 2023 victory in the Champions League with City.
He expressed his “surprise” that the city was not trying to extend its stay, filled with belief that he can still play at the highest level.
De Bruyne fell in the years when City joined 2-0 to Thrash Palace 5-2 last month with a goal and a decisive pass.
City hopes more of the same thing to make him an appropriate farewell and save a face of a season to forget for the men of Pep Guardiola.
After an unprecedented series of four consecutive titles in the Premier League, City has 18 points at the drift of the Liverpool champions and involved in a just battle to finish in the first five to obtain a place in the Champions League for next season.
De Bruyne’s decline played a factor in the slowdown in the city.
Of his 108 goals and 177 assists for the club in 419 appearances, only six and eight respectively came this season.
‘Go like a champion’
However, it remains “irreplaceable” because of its impact in the rise of the city to be the dominant force in English football, according to the prolific striker of the club, Erling Haaland.
“It is a dream to make him balls,” said Haaland. “It was really special with him. Such joy, and I will do everything I can to have this joy in the last games.
“The future will be different with different players. When Kevin leaves, we will need someone to replace them, although Kevin is irreplaceable in many ways.”
Guardiola appeared almost apologizing for having overlooked Bruyne sometimes this season while he was looking for solutions to fill the gaps in the aging midfielder of the city.
“The gratitude I have, we have, is huge,” said Guardiola.
“Kevin is the player in the history of the club with the most titles and who defines what Kevin did with us.”
A giant wall of De Bruyne alongside his trophy as a player in the city was unveiled in the city center of Manchester on Thursday.
Guardiola suggested that a statue outside the club’s Etihad stadium is also just a matter of time.
But after a decade most characterized by an incessant thirst to continue to win, the most appropriate tribute would be that Bruyne comes out with another medal around his neck.
“The whole team has only one thought and it is to try to get the trophy and make the day special for Kevin,” said the city midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
“For what he has done, he deserves to leave like a champion that he is obviously.
“It is a massive figure in the success of the city, and it will be remembered as one of the best.”
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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