Kevin De Bruyne won’t be leaving Manchester City this summer, according to manager Pep Guardiola.
The Belgian has been linked with Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad but Guardiola insists the 33-year-old will still be at the Etihad when the new season kicks off next month.
Speaking before the club’s first pre-season game, against Celtic in Chapel Hill, North Carolina later today, he said: “Kevin isn’t leaving.”
De Bruyne said during the European Championship that he envisaged remaining at City for the final 12 months of his contract but did admit he could reconsider if an “absurd” offer came in from Saudi.
And Al-Ittihad’s interest sparked rumours he could be tempted to cash in for the final years of his career.
Too smooth, Eddie! 👌 @Hulett_Brothers pic.twitter.com/e4j8Y4XrQv
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 22, 2024
Goalkeeper Ederson is another player believed to be on Al-Ittihad’s wishlist with reports of a £50million having been made over the weekend.
But Guardiola is confident the Brazilian will also stay at City as they look to secure a fifth successive Premier League crown.
“If someone leaves, we are going to talk about that and, of course, until the last day [of the transfer window] we have chances,” he said.
“I don’t rule out new players as an option, but I think there is an 85, 90, 95% chance we will have the same squad.”
City’s only acquisition this summer has been Brazil winger Savinho, although they have been linked with a move for Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, and Guardiola feels it’s important to bolster his squad every year.
“To bring one or two new players to bring something fresh is necessary,” Guardiola added. “It’s not necessary to put seven, eight players. You cannot, with modern financial issues, change six, seven players. It’s unsustainable, it’s impossible.
“We have to be smart. We try to do, many players want to come here, but we didn’t get an agreement with clubs because they ask for a so, so high price. We didn’t do it. I have a long, long list.
“I think we have a more longer list of players that we failed to bring here, than players that we brought here.”
