Man City's De Bruyne on Messi signing and 'wave of injuries'
The Belgian has been arguably the best player in the Premier League over recent years, but his 100% attitude works against him with the number of games in the calendar.
Kevin de Bruyne has raised his own voice to make other players' voices heard.
The 29 year old Belgian midfielder at Manchester City is currently on duty with his national team for three matches in seven days. A friendly against Ivory Coast (1-1), in which he did not play, is followed by two Nations League matches against England (11 October) and Iceland (14 October). Three matches in seven days that have set off the midfielder's alarms.
De Bruyne's injury concerns
"I've played flat out for two years. But nobody listens to the players. It worries me sometimes", Kevin de Bruyne said in an interview with Sky Sports. "Especially when I look at my own situation. I have had eight or nine days off. I couldn't go on holiday because my wife was pregnant. I haven't had a holiday. If I keep going until the end of the season, I will have been playing for two years without a rest."
"Your body is screaming out for a rest but nobody listens to the players. Everyone says: 'they earn good money, they've just got to manage'. And that's it, I can put up with those comments.
"I can see a wave of injuries coming for a lot of players, trust me. I always give 100%, I can't play at 80%."
De Bruyne's comments come as clubs face an intense 2020-2021 season following the postponement issues caused by covid-19. And then comes the summer of 2021, packed with the European Championships, Copa America and the Olympic Games, assuming the pandemic does not intervene again.
The Belgian played 34 games in the 2018-19 campaign, missing part of it due to a knee injury, and 52 games last season. He has played six games so far this season, including those with the national team under Roberto Martínez.
De Bruyne doesn't care if Messi comes to CIty
Kevin De Bruyne dismissed speculation linking Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi with a move to Manchester City, while he discussed his own contract situation at the Premier League giants.
Messi handed in a transfer request following a tumultuous 2019-20 season, which saw Barca humiliated 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals and dethroned by Real Madrid in LaLiga, before the six-time Ballon d'Or winner opted to remain at Camp Nou this term.
The 33-year-old was tipped to join City and while the transfer did not materialise, Pep Guardiola's side are reportedly still eyeing a move for the Argentina skipper. As rumours regarding Messi refuse to subside, City star De Bruyne said: "I don't really care to be honest.
"If he comes, it's a good thing, if he doesn't there is enough good players at the club who I enjoy playing with, so that is not for now."
De Bruyne's future has also been a topic of discussion amid reports City have made progress regarding contract talks.
The 29-year-old is contract to City until 2023 but the club want to offer De Bruyne a new five-year deal, something The Times has claimed is going positivly.
But De Bruyne said: "I am very happy at the club, I can say now I have not spoken once to the club so I don't know why people are saying I have already agreed to something.
"I always told everybody I am really happy at the club and I feel comfortable so if the people at the club want to talk to me I am open to that and we will see what happens.
"But at the moment nothing has happened so I just get on with the way it goes."