Pep Guardiola has insisted that Kevin De Bruyne will not leave Manchester City this summer, despite rumours linking the midfielder with a move to the Saudi Pro League.
The Belgian had previously admitted that he was ‘open’ to a move to the Middle East now he’s in the final year of his contract. As it stands, De Bruyne will close the door on his decade-long spell at the Etihad at the end of the upcoming season, unless the club can convince him to sign a new deal.
But for now, at least, De Bruyne will remain part of Guardiola’s squad, with the Catalan boss keen to confirm that his star will “not” leave this summer.
“Kevin is not going,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of City’s pre-season friendly against Celtic.
“If someone leaves, we’re going to talk about that.”
“Of course, until the last day, we have chances [to make transfers], I don’t rule out the option to have new players but I think there is an 85/90 per cent chance we will have the same squad.”
“I feel comfortable, because the quality of human beings we have in the squad is difficult to be replaced, and the quality is there. But we’ll see, I don’t know in the last moment if someone comes for some players and they leave, we’re going to decide.”
Guardiola’s comments shut down recent rumours that De Bruyne had agreed personal terms with Al Ittihad – the same side that houses Karim Benzema, Fabinho and N’Golo Kante.
De bruyne arrived at City in the summer of 2015 and has since lifted 15 major trophies.
