Manchester City will say goodbye to Etihad this summer after 10 years
Kevin De Bruyne still does not know if he will play for Manchester City in the club World Cup next month. De Bruyne leaves City when his contract ends on June 30th and half a week in the club World Cup in the US.
But the playmaker, who won 19 trophies in a shimmering decade in City, said he still is still not sure if he is going to the United States – with his contract that ends halfway through the tournament.
“It makes no sense, but I think that happens when you turn on new tournaments in the middle of this contract situation,” said De Bruyne.
“I think I should take care of myself in a certain sense, because if I get injured in the club World Cup, what am I going to do? Nobody will take care of me at the time. So there is a good chance that I will probably not play in it, but I may not know, maybe yes.
“I am just a player. I don't make any rules, I can't do anything about it. So in the end I will probably have to take care of myself in what a normal decision is.
“It also depends on when I can make my decision. I make my decision when I am ready or am at ease with making my decision. So that is probably, for me, the most important thing. I want to finish the next two games and then make a decision, but it is not that easy. I have to take care of my family. I have three children, so it is not an easy process.”
De Bruyne confirmed that he had conversations with other clubs, but said he still has to make a decision about where he will play next season.
“I want to play good football, regardless of the decision,” said De Bruyne. “I know you are trying to guess where I'm going to be, but I will make my decision and tell you.”
De Bruyne will say goodbye to his last city game in the Etihad Stadium against Bournemouth on Tuesday, but said he doesn't know how he will feel.
“I'm fine,” De Bruyne said. “I don't know how I will feel. It will be strange, but I will try to enjoy it. To be honest I can't tell you.”
Asked about not winning the FA Cup in what would have been a suitable end to his city career, De Bruyne said: “Okay, I could have won 20, I now have 19. It's good, this changes nothing that has happened in the last 10 years.
“Of course I wanted to win, but I also wanted to win last year. There are things that happen and it was great, so what can I say? It is usually really, really good moments, so that's life.”