Inside De Bruyne’s ‘bizarre’ City exile as M.Richards hints at ‘rift’ with Pep

MANCHESTER CITY and Pep Guardiola are in uncharted territory.

The reigning Premier League champions extended their winless run to seven games on Sunday with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.

They dropped to fifth place in the rankings, 11 points behind Arne Slot's team.

Pundits soon began to wonder what was happening behind the scenes at City.

And one of the main concerns was Kevin De Bruyne's lack of involvement.

The Belgian has been one of Man City's most important players since joining more than nine years ago.

But his match time has been severely limited this season.

De Bruyne has made just five starts for the Cityzens so far this season.

His last appearance in the starting line-up was against Brentford in September.

The 33-year-old's absence from the XI has led to speculation about a possible feud with Guardiola.

Manchester United icon Gary Neville wondered what is going on at the club after Sunday's match.

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, he said: “There are a few things that are interesting.

“The De Bruyne thing is unusual, bizarre and strange. Why is the best player the Premier League has had in the last decade probably not there?

“We know he's had injuries, but why isn't he there? Because he's a leader, he has authority, confidence and brilliance, so there's definitely something going on in the dressing room.

“Something is going on, but Pep Guardiola has full control of the club. He has extended his contract and is probably waiting for the January elections.” [summer] transfer period.”

Jamie Carragher repeated the claims at full-time, insisting there is “something not right” between De Bruyne and Guardiola.

The Liverpool icon explained: “There is something going on with De Bruyne.

“For me, he has been the best player of the last five seasons. He does not start games and does not play at half-time today.”

“I'm not trying to cause more problems for Manchester City, but something is not right between the two.

“It's sad because we are talking about one of the best managers and best players in the Premier League.

“His contract expires this summer and I know he has had a few problems but something is not right if he is not in the team when he is fit.”

England legend Gary Lineker gave his thoughts on the potential feud on Monday's edition of The Rest is Football podcast.

He said: “De Bruyne didn't come on for long when the match was almost over.

“Yes, he almost got a goal from it [Virgil] Van Dijk's mistake, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he's been performing for five or ten minutes, what for about a month now?

“You would imagine that he is getting fitter, even though I have seen both of them – Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne – make interesting statements in the week where it seems like things are not going well between the two. I don't know. I have no prior knowledge.”

Meanwhile, ex-Man City full-back Micah Richards insisted there must be context behind De Bruyne's banishment from the starting line-up.

“I think you're right,” he said. “There has to be some context… this goes back [to] before the international break.

“De Bruyne got a few minutes, but after the international break he didn't start and hasn't started since. But he's someone who can open a door!

“We know that with Kevin De Bruyne you have to wrap him in cotton wool… but a big game like this, I thought [Guardiola] was kinda saving him for this game!

'But even just the conversations, [De Bruyne] We may go to Saudi Arabia at the end of this year… it seems like there is some kind of gap between them.”

Richards then suggested that things “don't seem happy” in the city camp.

De Bruyne's contract expires at the end of the season and he is yet to negotiate a new contract.

Last month, the midfielder emphasized that he is “not worried” about his future.

He said: “I honestly don't know. At the beginning of the season I knew conversations were going to happen, but then it happened. [injury] happened in Brentford.

'I was hoping to be out for a few days, and then it lasted eight-nine weeks. I put it all aside.

“Right now I just want to get better first and see how I'm doing. The rest will come. I'm not that obsessed with things right now.

“I'm not too worried. I'm doing well. I'm happy, I just want to play good football again and the future – we'll see.”

“There will be conversations. If conversations don't happen, it will be my last year, but I don't know.

“I had a conversation in the summer but then I got the injury so I wasn't in the right frame of mind to talk about that. I need to get back on the pitch and be myself again.”

“There's no rush, I don't feel uncomfortable. I don't worry.”

Manchester City next play against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

Another defeat would see them drop below Forest in the table.