Pep Guardiola hands Kevin De Bruyne advice over decision on Manchester City future | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has been handed some words of advice by his manager over the imminent decision that will need to be made over his future.

The 33-year-old attacking midfielder is firmly into the final years of his top-level professional playing career, and also finds himself at a crossroads when it comes to his next steps within the game.

As things stand, De Bruyne’s Manchester City contract will expire at the end of the ongoing season, and at present there are currently no signs of the Etihad Stadium club wanting to open talks over a new agreement for one of their finest ever players.

Recent reports have however indicated that from De Bruyne’s side, the Belgium international would be willing to remain at Manchester City beyond this campaign and take on more of a bit-part role in the first-team set-up moving forward.

And speaking during a recent pre-match press conference, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked whether he would hand Kevin De Bruyne any help over a decision on his Etihad Stadium future.

“Of course we know eachother quite well and I think we are quite honest with that. I think in that situation he has to decide, that is the most important thing,” Guardiola told reporters this week.

He continued, “He’s completely honest with himself and he’s going to decide what does he feel, what he can do in the next period of his life.

“In summer he’s 34-years-old, at the end of the season, and he has to decide like what happened with David Silva, for example, and many other players.”

Pep Guardiola was further asked whether some of Manchester City’s more experienced and ageing stars, presumably including De Bruyne, will have to fight for their future at the club over the remaining weeks and months of the ongoing season.

“Of course, all of them can play,” Guardiola reassured those in question. “When the team plays better, they can play. Six months or seven months ago, it was the Champion team. We adjusted one player with Savinho and the rest are the same.

“And when the team behaves better, especially when everyone is there, they are players to play for City, there are no doubts about that.”

Joining De Bruyne on a list of players that could see their Manchester City careers come to an end this summer are the likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones – with the latter’s fitness and injury record likely to raise doubts over his ability to continue.

The aforementioned German midfielder is expected to activate a clause in his initial one-year contract signed last summer that would automatically extend his deal by a further 12 months, although the two parties may agree to bring a close to his time at the Etihad earlier.