Manchester City will bid farewell to Kevin De Bruyne this summer after 10 years at the Etihad, but the club are still hopeful the Belgian will feature for them at the Club World Cup in the United States before his exit
Kevin De Bruyne still does not know if he will play for Manchester City in next month’s Club World Cup. De Bruyne will leave City when his contract expires on June 30 - two-and-a-half weeks into the Club World Cup in the USA.
But the playmaker, who won 19 trophies in a glittering decade at City, said he is still unsure if he will go to the States - with his contract expiring midway through the tournament.
"It doesn't make any sense, but I think that happens when you push in new tournaments in the middle of this contract situation," said De Bruyne.
"I think, in a way, I have to take care of myself, because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what am I going to do? Nobody's going to take care of me at that point. So there's a big chance I probably won't play in it, but I don't know, maybe yes.
"I'm just a player. I don't make the rules, I can't do anything about it. So in the end I'll probably have to take care of myself in what is a normal decision.
"It also depends on when I can take my decision. I'll take my decision whenever I'm ready or comfortable with making my decision. So that's probably, for me, the most important thing. I want to finish the next two games and then make a decision after, but it's not that easy. I have to take care of my family. I've got three kids, my wife, so it's not an easy process at this time.”
De Bruyne confirmed he has had conversations with other clubs, but said he has yet to make a decision on where he will play next season.
"I want to play good football whatever the decision will be,” said De Bruyne. “I know you’re trying to guess where I’m going to be, but I’ll make my decision and will tell you.”
De Bruyne will say an emotional farewell in his last City game at the Etihad Stadium against Bournemouth on Tuesday, but said he does not know how he will feel.
"I'm fine,” said De Bruyne. "I don't know how I'm going to feel. It's going to be weird, but I'm going to try and enjoy it. Honestly I cannot tell you.”
Asked about failing to win the FA Cup in what would have been a fitting ending to his City career, De Bruyne said: "Okay, I could have won 20, I have 19 now. It's alright, this doesn't change anything that's happened in the past 10 years.
"Of course I wanted to win, but I wanted to win last year also. There's things that happen and it's been amazing, so what can I say? It's mostly been really, really good moments, so that's life."