Latest news with #DavidSilva
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin De Bruyne's will to win made him Man City's best ever player - Fulham trip is a fitting finale
Kevin De Bruyne can cut open defences at will but he's always been pretty blunt with his opinion. The Manchester City legend said goodbye to the Etihad on Tuesday night on an evening packed full of emotion. It's perhaps fitting that the historical home of Fulham could provide his last moments in blue for De Bruyne will go down in history. A modern day great, perhaps City's greatest ever, and a talent so irreplaceable, so incredible and so good that we might never see his like again. READ MORE: Man United takeover twist emerges as Glazers feel Sir Jim Ratcliffe 'discontent' READ MORE: Man City receive 115 charges verdict as Gary Neville angrily labels case a 'disgrace' He makes the difficult look gracefully simple on the pitch and is straightforward on the complex off it. He didn't shy away from interviews after the FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace and, as he always is, was honest in his views. He's always said what he thinks. De Bruyne made light of his infamous 'let me talk' row with David Silva in a 2017 Champions League match during his speech after the midweek win over Bournemouth. But the Belgian has always been a straight shooter. As a teenager he stepped up to train with Genk for the first time. He wasn't overly impressed with what he saw. 'Come on, you need to run more. Please let's be better' he screamed at incredulous senior team-mates. "He always wanted perfection. And he didn't care who he had to shout at to get it," recalls former Genk skipper David Hubert of that training session when a 17-year-old De Bruyne announced himself. De Bruyne made his debut a few short months later and by then it was clear to all at Genk that they had a generational talent on their hands. "Kevin was not just talk. He was doing it on the pitch. He was speaking with his feet and his mouth. We were soon in awe of him," Hubert added. He helped Genk to the title in 2011 and attracted the glances of Chelsea. His time in London didn't work out but De Bruyne reminded European football of his talent during a spell in Germany with Wolfsburg and City came calling with a £55million offer. The fee prompted Sky Sports pundits Paul Merson and Phil Thompson to label the decision 'an absolute joke' and 'absolutely bonkers'. Ten years on the joke is on them. De Bruyne has flourished at City, helping them to win it all. He has an inate will to win, a desire that has prompted honest interviews in recent weeks about his belief he can still compete at the highest level despite the decision by City to let him leave. At just eight he left local club VV Drongen for Gent because their training sessions were much better, he left the family home and moved 100 miles across the country for Genk in 2005 because he felt that was the best route for him. Nothing would stand in his way. He accused teammates of not trying hard enough during a half time TV interview in 2012, and at Wolfsburg he shouted at a ball boy who he thought was deliberately slowing the game down. Guardiola saw the character and the quality, he likened him to Lionel Messi and built a team around him at City. De Bruyne responded with jaw-dropping effect. The 7-2 win over Stoke in October 2017 stands out, from the no-look reverse pass for Leroy Sane for his first assist of the day to his third, stealing the ball with a lung-busting interception before rolling a ball of anyone's dreams through to the back post where Sane smashed home. The playmaker conducted City's successful orchestra, building to the crescendo of the Champions League and that 2023 Treble. At the final whistle in Istanbul, an emotional Guardiola embraced him: "We did it. We did it. We did it. Seven years of fighting, we did it Kev. We did it. Now we have it." De Bruyne did have it. He always had it. And City will always have him.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester City plan Kevin De Bruyne statue outside the Etihad
Manchester City have confirmed a statue of midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been commissioned for outside the Etihad Stadium. Tuesday marked De Bruyne's final City home game as he prepares to leave the club this summer, with the 33-year-old playing the opening 70 minutes of his side's 3-1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth. Advertisement He was honoured on the Etihad pitch with a tribute video and presentation at full time, and City also announced a statue would be built to celebrate his 10 years at the club 'It means I will always be part of this club,' De Bruyne said. 'Whenever I come back with family and friends, I will be able to see myself so I will always be here.' De Bruyne follows his former City team-mates Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva in being honoured with a statue outside the Etihad, alongside club greats from the 1960s and 70s Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee and Colin Bell. De Bruyne announced in April he would be leaving City upon the expiration of his contract in the summer. Since joining the club from Wolfsburg in 2015 he has made 421 appearances, providing 108 goals and 177 assists and winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023. 'You just want to do well and win, and then when you win you want to win more,' De Bruyne said. 'We've had five, six parades, that's been incredible. To witness everything that goes around it the city, and all the moments with my team-mates, there's too many to count. It's been an absolute pleasure.' The Belgium international is yet to confirm where he will play his football next season, but The Athletic reported in May that Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire are the favourites to sign him. De Bruyne received a guard of honour on and off the pitch on Tuesday as City bounced back from their FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace to beat Bournemouth, while video messages from his family and former team-mates including Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho were played on the Etihad's big screen at full time. City moved up to third in the Premier League and conclude their 2024-25 top-flight campaign away to Fulham on Sunday.
RTÉ News
27-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Pep Guardiola understands Kevin De Bruyne's dismay over Manchester City curtain call but backs midfielder to finish on a high
Pep Guardiola understands Kevin De Bruyne's disappointment but is convinced he will give everything to go out on a high at Manchester City. The long-serving Belgian playmaker, who will leave City when his contract expires in the summer, this week spoke of his sorrow at not being offered a new deal. The 33-year-old is one of the most decorated players in the club's history having won 16 trophies in a glorious 10-year spell, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He will hope to take a step towards a third FA Cup as City take on Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday. Guardiola said: "That would be good, of course it would be. He's behaved unbelievably all these years and, this month, again, since he announced that he's in the last months here in Manchester City. It will happen until the end. "He's trained really good. He's playing and helping us with his skills and his talents. I know he wants the best for the club." Guardiola admits the decision to release De Bruyne was among his toughest "by far". The veteran joins a growing list of club stalwarts who have moved on in recent years after the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, David Silva and Vincent Kompany. Guardiola said: "I have lived a lot of things with them - a lot, good moments and terrible, bad moments. "Sergio, David Silva, all the players - we can make a long, long list and we are only nine years here. "There are a lot of players that come in and after they leave, they are part of my life. It's impossible not to feel it. Of course, it's so difficult.
Powys County Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
No letting up: Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne ‘wants the best for the club'
Pep Guardiola understands Kevin De Bruyne's disappointment but is convinced he will give everything to go out on a high at Manchester City. The long-serving Belgian playmaker, who will leave City when his contract expires in the summer, this week spoke of his sorrow at not being offered a new deal. The 33-year-old is one of the most decorated players in the club's history having won 16 trophies in a glorious 10-year spell, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He will hope to take a step towards a third FA Cup as City take on Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday. Guardiola said: 'That would be good, of course it would be. He's behaved unbelievably all these years and, this month, again, since he announced that he's in the last months here in Manchester City. It will happen until the end. 'He's trained really good. He's playing and helping us with his skills and his talents. I know he wants the best for the club.' Guardiola admits the decision to release De Bruyne was among his toughest 'by far'. The veteran joins a growing list of club stalwarts who have moved on in recent years after the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, David Silva and Vincent Kompany. Guardiola said: 'I have lived a lot of things with them – a lot, good moments and terrible, bad moments. 'Sergio, David Silva, all the players – we can make a long, long list and we are only nine years here. 'There are a lot of players that come in and after they leave, they are part of my life. It's impossible not to feel it. Of course, it's so difficult. 'The feelings that he (Kevin) has – I understand completely. It cannot be otherwise. I wish personally for him and his family all the best.'
The Independent
26-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
No letting up: Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne ‘wants the best for the club'
Pep Guardiola understands Kevin De Bruyne's disappointment but is convinced he will give everything to go out on a high at Manchester City. The long-serving Belgian playmaker, who will leave City when his contract expires in the summer, this week spoke of his sorrow at not being offered a new deal. The 33-year-old is one of the most decorated players in the club's history having won 16 trophies in a glorious 10-year spell, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. He will hope to take a step towards a third FA Cup as City take on Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals at Wembley on Sunday. Guardiola said: 'That would be good, of course it would be. He's behaved unbelievably all these years and, this month, again, since he announced that he's in the last months here in Manchester City. It will happen until the end. 'He's trained really good. He's playing and helping us with his skills and his talents. I know he wants the best for the club.' Guardiola admits the decision to release De Bruyne was among his toughest 'by far'. The veteran joins a growing list of club stalwarts who have moved on in recent years after the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, David Silva and Vincent Kompany. Guardiola said: 'I have lived a lot of things with them – a lot, good moments and terrible, bad moments. 'Sergio, David Silva, all the players – we can make a long, long list and we are only nine years here. 'There are a lot of players that come in and after they leave, they are part of my life. It's impossible not to feel it. Of course, it's so difficult. 'The feelings that he (Kevin) has – I understand completely. It cannot be otherwise. I wish personally for him and his family all the best.'
