Kevin De Bruyne commits allegiance to Manchester City in new interview | OneFootball

Manchester City continue to feel like Kevin De Bruyne’s club, according to the Belgian midfielder himself speaking during a new interview.

De Bruyne’s decade-long stint at the Etihad Stadium came to an end this summer as Manchester City bosses decided against renewing the 34-year-old’s contract, with the playmaker entering the twilight of his playing career.

The Belgium international remains one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe and after announcing in March that he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, De Bruyne joined Napoli on a two-year deal in June.

However, the former Chelsea man, who joined City from VfL Wolfsburg for a then club-record £55 million fee in 2015, has admitted that his time at the Etihad Stadium has left a lasting impression on him and that he will always carry Manchester City in his heart.

Speaking in a new interview with Corriere della Sera, Kevin De Bruyne committed himself to the Etihad Stadium, as he admitted during the conversation, “I’ll always feel like a (Manchester) City player.”

Having struggled with injuries during the 2023-24 Premier League winning campaign, De Bruyne was allowed to enter the final year of his Manchester City contract with a view of opening contract talks as and when the six-time Premier League would return to peak fitness and form.

However, Manchester City endured their most difficult season under Pep Guardiola last season as they failed to mount a challenge for the Premier League, crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.

De Bruyne spent another season in and out of the fold as he grappled with recurring injuries that derailed him from showcasing his best form until the latter stages of the recent campaign, with the Napoli man playing a crucial role in leading Manchester City to a third-place league finish.

Looking back on the process of leaving Guardiola’s side and sourcing a new opportunity within the game, the 34-year-old added: “When City decided not to renew my contract, I started looking around. After such a long time, I no longer wanted to stay in England.

“Among the various options, Napoli seemed the best for my family and for me as a player. I can still play at a high level in Serie A.”

On whether Napoli was the only ‘real’ offer he received, De Bruyne said: “No, it’s the best option. There were many offers, but I chose the Italian champions; they’re playing in the Champions League, and (Antonio) Conte is a magnificent coach.

“When you’re young, you only make decisions for yourself. Now I’ve asked my children too; the eldest is 10 and is in an important developmental stage.”