Update: |”Move on” – Why Man City did not offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract News

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola confirmed that the club decided against offering a new contract to Kevin De Bruyne.

Pep Guardiola and Txiki Begiristain jointly decided not to offer Kevin De Bruyne a new contract at Manchester City.

De Bruyne made the surprise announcement on Friday, prompting a delay to Pep Guardiola’s press conference before the manager said he knew of the Belgian’s decision for some time. The fact he is leaving has been on the cards for some time – however the timing of the statement 48 hours before a Manchester Derby was a shock.

Guardiola was full of praise for a player who was already at City when he arrived and has been at the heart of almost every trophy the pair have won. However he also suggested that the decision was made for De Bruyne when referencing his injury problems of the last 18 months.

Now, he has confirmed that he was directly involved in the call to end De Bruyne’s ten year career, saying: “The club has to move forward. Move on.”

He then added: “The decision has been made for the club. The club is the club. Me, Txiki and the club. It is what it is.”

Guardiola insisted that City will not be able to replace De Bruyne – but pointed to Erling Haaland’s goals after Sergio Aguero’s departure as a hint that he will find an alternative at the top of midfield.

“He’s injured the last year and a half because he gave everything for the club. It happened because he’s given everything with his body and his mind. There is no doubt about that,” Guardiola said.

“To replicate these numbers, and his kind of things, is so difficult. But we have to find other qualities. He’s the only player who has finished his contract, the rest are under contract, and still there are many things the club and myself haven’t decided on what we have to do.

“Of course it’s difficult. People say, ‘OK Erling came to replace Sergio’. Sergio was irreplaceable for many things. It’s not about the goals. Football is nice when you can give emotion to the fans and Sergio gave something unique. Like Erling will be unique.

“There are things that cannot be substituted. To say bye to these type of players is so difficult. There are players who are unique, who represent what the club wants to be. And Kevin is one of them. Now it’s a shock but people will remember how blessed and happy they were to see these type of player who gave us absolutely everything. You can only be grateful.

“The club gave everything to him and he gave everything to us. My period here will always have Kevin there in my memories. He cannot be forgotten. Even in the bad moments. People say they will remember that everything was a fairytale. Of course it wasn’t.