Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says the club will have to think about whether to offer legendary midfielder Kevin de Bruyne a new contract to stay at the club.
The 33-year-old playmaker has been influential since joining City from Wolfsburg for a then club-record fee of £55m in 2015, winning six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups and the Champions League.
But he has found game time hard to come by this season, scoring twice in 17 appearances.
Guardiola said: “It’s not my business if he gets a new deal.
Pinpoint precision from @KevinDeBruyne 👌 pic.twitter.com/FZNBnZDwLv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 30, 2024
“He’s had problems in the last year and a half like many players but when he is consistent and fit he is a really important player for us. A decisive player for us.
“But it is about how he is going to perform for us until the end of the season, the club, his age and many other things, so I think the club has to think about it.”
‘He should have more minutes’
City won at Leicester last time out but start the new year in sixth place in the Premier League tanle, 14 points off the leaders Liverpool.
One player who impressed at Leicester was James McAtee, who was superb after replacing Phil Foden but has barely featured all season.
Guardiola said: “It made me believe that he should have more minutes.
“But he is young and there are a lot of games to play. I have big respect for how he behaves in the locker room.”
McAtee could feature again as City take on West Ham on Saturday, with defender Ruben Dias close to a return.
Guardiola is not sure if he will be adding to his squad this month, with January signings notoriously difficult to pull off.
He said: “I don’t know right now. It is not easy and will not be easy.
“Maybe we will sign or maybe we won’t sign anyone.
“The club has to be wise. To add players in the situation that we are in when there are many consistent injured players then the club has to do it, but I don’t know if it will be possible to do it.”
