Pep Guardiola believes that Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best three or five players in the history of Manchester City, but is not sure if the Belgian will still be in the club next season.
De Bruyne scored late to complete the 3-1 victory of City in Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Saturday, while the men of Guardiola survived a huge fifth round shock.
After he had fallen behind with the header of Maksymym Talovierov, City turned around with a Nico O 'Reilly -Brace and De Bruyne scored their CLINCH goal at death.
Since his debut in the competition in January 2016, De Bruyne has been involved in more FA Cup objectives (first round) than any other player (28 – 10 goals, 18 assists).
But the midfielder becomes 34 in June and is strongly connected to an exit after playing a reduced role in 2024-25.
Guardiola said after Saturday's victory, said that De Bruyne will go as a club legend and tells BBC Sport: “He is perhaps one of the best three to five players in the history of this club.
“Every time he performs well, I am the happiest man on the planet. He has given a lot of things to the team and to me, and he played very, very well today today.”
But when asked whether De Bruyne will still be at the Etihad Stadium next season, Guardiola added: “Nobody knows.”
Guardiola was also full of praise for 19-year-old O'Reilly, who was also on the score sheet when City Salford City defeated 8-0 in the third round.
19 years and 345 days, he is the youngest player who scores a brace for city in all competitions since Phil Foden (18 years, 264 days) against Newport County (also in the FA Cup) in February 2019.
Asked about the impact of the teenager, Guardiola said: “It seems that our left backs score our goals!
He is a different type of academy player. He is a big presence and can play in three or four positions.
“He is a threat to set pieces because he is strong. I am really happy for him because he helped us a lot.”
City has won 15 consecutive home games in the FA Cup since a defeat of the fourth round (0-2) to Middlesbrough in January 2015.
This is their longest run in the competition and the longest winning Thuis Run through each team since Liverpool won a 16th straight cup draw in Anfield in January 1955.
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