Did City Make a Mistake with Kevin De Bruyne?

This season, the Premier League will see the departure of one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game, Kevin De Bruyne. 

Fans with Man City tickets were quite overwhelmed by the Belgian’s announcement. He took to social media to announce that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. 

From a rejected Chelsea prospect to be the greatest at the game at Manchester City, it is truly a heartwarming story. 

But fans with Man City tickets are now wondering if the decision to let De Bruyne go was a mistake. 

The midfielder is bidding an emotional farewell after 10 trophy-laden years at the club, and the Belgian soaked up the acclaim by taking the long route around the pitch before heading down the tunnel.

The 33-year-old will disappear for good when his City contract expires in the summer. Still, here he could enjoy another deserved moment in the limelight – his penultimate game at the Etihad.

De Bruyne struck the only goal in the 1-0 Premier League victory against in-form Wolves, which may ensure City play Champions League football next season.

The midfielder said he was surprised not to be offered a new contract last month, and wanted to make a point about his abilities after the game.

“I don’t know about the future, unfortunately,” a serious-looking De Bruyne told Sky Sports. “I have shown I can still play here. Otherwise, I don’t do what I do these last four or five weeks.

“A lot of teammates have spoken to me, they are also sad that I have to go. It goes like this in life, but how I perform is how I should be.

“I just try to play as well as I can. I have one game left here. I do my job as always, and I did that. I am proud of what I am doing.”

Thank You – says Guardiola 

De Bruyne will undoubtedly be one of the Premier League’s best midfielders when he departs in the summer. This is not just coming from the fans with Man City tickets, but everyone who tunes into the Premier League week-in, week-out knows the calibre of De Bruyne and will singhandedly attest to this statement. 

The former Chelsea and Wolfsburg player has stacked his trophy cabinet by winning all there is to win at City – an impressive haul of 16 trophies.

A succession of injuries has taken their toll, and De Bruyne’s influence on the pitch appears to be waning by not being the pass-master of old.

But he showed a glimpse of what he is still capable of by converting a superb, first-time finish from Jeremy Doku’s cross.

The skipper was given a standing ovation when Phil Foden replaced him with six minutes to go, and Guardiola gave him a pat on the head after coming off.

“Just thank you,” Guardiola told Sky Sports. “His contribution in the game against Crystal Palace was when we were 2-0 down, and he delivered, and today, the goal is again.

“I am happy that it is finishing that way, and we have one more game in the Etihad.

“I want the best for Kevin, so it is impossible to have done these many years without him. He has been an incredible player, but the situation is what it is.

“It’s almost impossible to replace this kind of player. It is not just the performance, it is what he means to the heart of our fans for many, many years. The success we have belongs to the players.”

Guardiola added: “I am pretty sure it is not easy for him, but the goal was massively important for us – it lifted our spirits.

“He does not have to prove anything. I know his quality, his level.”

City’s Verdict After Summer 

A verdict in the Premier League’s landmark court battle with Manchester City over ‘115’ charges is unlikely before the summer, Telegraph Sport understands.

City have been accused of breaching a series of financial rules over a nine-year period and allegations of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations.

An independent commission hearing concluded in December after almost three months of legal argument at London’s International Dispute Resolution Centre. A decision in the case was initially anticipated to be delivered around this time, in the early spring.

But no hard-and-fast deadline was ever set and the feeling is that an outcome is unlikely before the summer, raising the prospect of there still being quite a wait before a verdict arrives. The 2025-26 Premier League season will start on Aug 16.

Given the number of charges, the complexities involved, the amount of evidence heard and challenged, and the scrutiny surrounding a case dubbed football’s “trial of the century,” the length of time being taken is not considered a surprise in legal circles.

It has been more than two years since the Premier League announced the charges against City in February 2023, and it has been approaching six and a half years since they first began their investigations into the club.

City vehemently denies any wrongdoing and says they have “irrefutable evidence” that will clear the club. Lord Pannick KC is leading their defence against the charges.

The original 115 alleged breaches total 130 because when the Premier League announced the charges, there was confusion over some of the rules listed in particular seasons, and a correction was issued.

Pep Guardiola, the City manager, has repeatedly asked City’s critics to wait until the case’s outcome before passing judgment on the club.

If serious charges against City are proven, they could be hit with a heavy points deduction or even relegation. Other Premier League clubs could also claim for loss of income for missing out on the league title or European competitions throughout several seasons, which could total hundreds of millions of pounds.

The City has said it welcomes the independent commission’s review to “impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position” and “looks forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

For the fans who turn up at the Etihad with Man City tickets, the thought of relegation itself makes their hearts race. They hope that the club will be relieved of all the charges and that they can focus on what happens on the field.