Update: I saw Kevin De Bruyne’s hurt at Man City contract decision as Txiki Begiristain listened News

Kevin De Bruyne said he was shocked at Manchester City’s decision not to renew his contract, relayed to him in a ‘brief’ meeting at the start of April.

Txiki Begiristain was in jovial discussion with his successor Hugo Viana in the tight corridors in Goodison Park after a vital away win as Kevin De Bruyne walked out of the Manchester City dressing room. He might not have been smiling a few minutes later.

Directly outside were waiting journalists, ignored politely by most of the City squad after their 2-0 win at Everton, but De Bruyne walked straight towards the microphones without even being asked. He had something to say and now was the time – a first chance to speak candidly about the decision of City not to renew his contract.

His first answer set the tone: “I don’t care,” he replied when asked if it had been nice to receive all the tributes of the previous three weeks. “The decision has been taken and since then I just want to play football like I always have.” That was the interview equivalent of De Bruyne placing the ball down on the turf and raising his arm before bending a wicked ball towards the back post to a waiting teammate.

He spoke of his surprise at City’s lack of contract offer before informing him he would leave. He made it clear he didn’t agree with the decision and revealed he had told Begiristain and CEO Ferran Soriano as much in their ‘brief’ meeting when he was told about his future.

Was it awkward that this conversation was happening within earshot of Begiristain? “I don’t feel awkward. It is what it is. I have to accept people taking decisions,” De Bruyne shrugged. “I think I told them also, I feel like I still have a lot to give.”

De Bruyne has never been one to hold his tongue and he won’t start now. He also has to put himself in the shop window – refusing to commit to representing City at the Club World Cup and leaving the door open to “anything” in regard to his next move, including a rival Premier League club.

This was De Bruyne unchained, having expressed his calmness at a lack of contract talks throughout the season, now it was his time to speak with his future decided for him. His decision to post a farewell message just minutes before Pep Guardiola faced the media before the Manchester derby felt uncoordinated yet deliberate and De Bruyne revealed he had a few “weird” days to stew on the life-changing news before revealing it to the world.

“It was about half-a-week until I reported it out,” he explained. “It wasn’t nice. My family wasn’t home. They were on Easter holidays so it was a bit weird but it is what it is.

“It’s a bit weird because it’s only been a short time. After the decision was taken and when I came out [with the message], it was more of a relief when I reported it to the outside world compared to when I knew and nobody else knew. You don’t know what to do with the emotion with everybody and how to handle it at the club.

“Now it’s out, it’s fine. People see the way that I am. I’ve tried to do my best for the club, win games for the team.”

Spending just eight minutes hearing De Bruyne speak, it was clear he is still emotional at the manner of the decision, hurt even. He feels he can still contribute to City and maybe wanted to say more. Last week he did his talking on the pitch, at Goodison Park he was full of endeavour and received a standing ovation from all four stands when replaced late on.

As ever, that sort of thing isn’t De Bruyne’s style – but he will have to get used to it in the final weeks of the season. But he doesn’t want to be saying goodbye and he certainly doesn’t want to see this as the beginning of the end of his career.

He feels he has more to give, and he will want to show City were wrong. Maybe that involves staying in the Premier League.

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