Guardiola adamant star creator won't leave Man City

 

 

Pep Guardiola has moved to quash rumours that Kevin De Bruyne will leave Manchester City this summer despite links with a move to Saudi Arabia. 

 

Al Ittihad have been heavily linked with a move for the Belgian, who has just a year left to run on his current deal at the Etihad Stadium. 

 

However, speaking ahead of City's pre-season meeting with Celtic, Guardiola is adamant that the 33-year-old won't be departing the Premier League champions. 

 

 

"Kevin is not going," Guardiola is quoted as saying by Sky Sports when asked about De Bruyne. 

 

"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." 

 

 

Despite missing the first half of the season due to injury, De Bruyne still ended the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with 10 assists to his name; only Ollie Watkins (13) and Cole Palmer (11) registered more.