Pep Guardiola hails Kevin de Bruyne as a Premier League great after departure announcement

MANCHESTER – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Kevin de Bruyne as one of the English Premier League’s (EPL) greatest midfielders, after the Belgian announced on April 4 that he would leave at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old has lifted 16 trophies since joining City from German side VfL Wolfsburg in 2015 – a haul that includes six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

He has played 413 games for City, scoring 106 goals and providing 174 assists, including 118 in the Premier League – the second-most behind Ryan Giggs (162).

“One of the greatest midfielders ever to have played in this country, and I think with Manchester City, there is no doubt,” Guardiola told a news conference on April 4, ahead of the Premier League clash at Manchester United on April 6.

“Greatest, not The Greatest. Always you have to be careful with players that played at Maine Road (City’s former stadium), incredible players in the last 20-30 years in this club (too).

“But come on, there’s no doubt he’s one of the greatest for sure because of his consistency in important games, the not important games, being there every three days all the time. There is no doubt.”

The Spaniard added that he had known about de Bruyne's departure a few days before it was announced, though the news still carried a bittersweet feeling.

“A sad day. A happy day for the fact that (I had) the pleasure personally (to) live with him. He gave all of us his humility and, with his influence in our success in the last decade, that would have been impossible to imagine without him.”

Asked whether de Bruyne deserved a statue at the stadium like other club greats, such as Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany, the coach said de Bruyne certainly did. “I will bet a lot of money that it will happen,” Guardiola said.

De Bruyne has played 20 EPL games this season after an injury in September and fitness struggles.

After a difficult campaign, City still have an FA Cup semi-final to come against Nottingham Forest on April 27. The competition offers the Belgian, with two FA Cups in 2019 and 2023, the chance to add more silverware to his trophy cabinet.

City will also play in the 32-team Club World Cup in the United States from June 14 to July 13.

Asked whether de Bruyne would feature in the Club World Cup, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. He has to decide. The Club World Cup is new with contracts...

“The club has to talk to him or he has to say what he wants to do. The first three games are under contract until June 30, but after that, if we go through, I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will sit out the rest of the season after surgery on his hamstring, the club said on April 3.

The 27-year-old Brazilian went down injured in the 2-1 win over Fulham on April 1 and was substituted immediately and limped off.

“Gabi will undergo a surgical repair procedure to his hamstring in the coming days, and immediately begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, with the aim to be ready for the start of next season,” Arsenal said in a statement.

Arsenal are 12 points behind Liverpool in the title race with eight games left, starting with the trip to Everton on April 5, while they host Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals next week.

Gabriel has been Arsenal’s linchpin in defence alongside William Saliba, with the pair helping the club maintain the best defensive record in England’s top flight, conceding 25 goals in 30 games.

The Gunners were already without defenders Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Jurrien Timber also came off in the Fulham game with a knee issue.

The club also lost strikers Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus to season-ending injuries earlier in 2025.
REUTERS