‘Except Kevin...’ - Pep Guardiola has his say on De Bruyne’s Man City future

Incredibly, Manchester City’s FA Cup game against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday represents their final chance of picking up silverware this season.

We’re still in February but City have already been eliminated from the Champions League and EFL Cup; in the Premier League they sit 20 points adrift of leaders Liverpool. The team’s 2024/25 collapse has left Pep Guardiola planning for a major reshape and may mean the end for one of the club’s greatest-ever players.

Kevin de Bruyne is now 33 and has slipped from the first-choice starting XI in recent months. He has played just 44% of City’s Premier League minutes this season and is out of contract in the summer. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Pep Guardiola seemed to suggest that he could be leaving the Etihad Stadium soon.

“There are players here that their age is over 30 but they are part of the future of this club. Except Kevin - and Kevin and the club will decide on his future - everyone who has a contract for next season I expect him to be here."

There has been no movement on a contract extension for De Bruyne and, with injury issues becoming increasingly prominent, the Belgian great looks set to leave the club in the near future.

Guardiola ready to blood new players

The visit of Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle should not pose too much of a threat to City, although they did stun Liverpool in the previous round. Guardiola may look to rotate his squad for Saturday’s game and he’s hinted that one of the lesser-seen January signings could feature.

Asked about the progress made by Vitor Reis, Guardiola said: “He is young and he came from Brazil. He has incredible focus. Defenders there [Brazil] have great physicality and conditioning, but are also so clever and intelligent, and this is one of the ones. We are really pleased with the way he is training, behaving and the potential he has.”

Likewise young forward Oscar Bobb has returned to training in recent days after recovering from a leg fracture. Bobb sustained the injury just last summer’s preseason tour of the United States and Guardiola will be careful not to rush him back too soon.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.