Guardiola makes final De Bruyne plea as Man City face Club World Cup issue

Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne announced on Friday that he'll leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season, but the exact date of his departure remains undecided

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Pep Guardiola wants Kevin De Bruyne to end his glittering Manchester City career with the Club World Cup - but admits he does not know if he will stay. De Bruyne’s City contract finishes after the first phase of the tournament at the end of June and he would have to sign a short-term deal to carry on for the remainder until July 13.

Guardiola admitted he had not discussed the tournament with De Bruyne and said it would be the playmaker’s decision “It’s a good question, I don’t know,” said the City boss after De Bruyne confirmed his departure on social media. “I think he has to decide, he has to talk, because now with the World Cup, it’s a new contract, legally, you know.

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“If he can continue playing football in another place, it depends on the risk, playing there for the contracts, or injuries, or the future. So, honestly, I don’t know. I think the club has to talk to him, or he has to say what he wants to do.”

Guardiola says playing in the revamped FIFA tournament in the US would be a great way for De Bruyne to bow out after a trophy-laden decade at City. “Of course, it’s the first time you play this competition and at the end of the first three games, he’s still under contract. After that, if we go through, I don’t know. So I cannot answer. Kevin has to tell and after that legally can it be possible or not.”

Guardiola claims De Bruyne, 33, deserves a statue and the Belgian is the club’s most-decorated player with one Champions League, six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and five League Cups. “I don’t know,” said Guardiola. “But I will bet a lot of money that it’s going to happen.”

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READ MORE:Ruben Amorim issues Man Utd injury update for Man City clash including Kobbie Mainoo latestREAD MORE:FA Cup semi-final dates confirmed with Arsenal fixture causing major headache

He added: “It’s a sad day, but also a happy day for the fact that the pleasure personally that I lived this time with him. What he gave all of us, his humanity and of course I don’t have to say his influence on our success in the last decade. It would be impossible to imagine that without him. It’s a sad day because part of us is leaving.

“When Vincent left or Sergio [Aguero] left or David Silva left and I could say more names, it’s a sad day. But still we have 10 games, and hopefully 11, and six games at home that we can still enjoy with our fans and I’m pretty sure he will get the love and the recognition from all of us that he deserves.

Should Kevin De Bruyne play for Manchester City at the Club World Cup? Have your say in the comments section.

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“I read he’s been involved in 180 goals in terms of goals and assists. He’s one of the greatest midfielders that has ever played in this country.

“You always have to be careful out of respect for the players who were at Maine Road and the last 20 to 30 years, but come on, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest. He had injury problems for the last year-and-a-half, but his consistency in important games and being there every three days.”

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