Can Manchester City Survive De Bruyne's Departure?
The midfield maestro has announced his departure from the club at the end of the 2024/25 season
Manchester City has had a great last decade winning a plethora of trophies. And in the last 10 years, the one constant has been the presence of impactful midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
The talismanic Belgian has been one of the reasons for the club's rising graph in recent times. Under Pep Guardiola's guidance, he became one of the world's best midfielders, known for his vision, passing, and ability to control games. His contributions were pivotal in transforming Manchester City into a dominant force in English football.
And as it happens, he is calling it quits at the club.
De Bruyne announced the conclusion of a remarkable 10-year tenure at City through a social media post. He expressed gratitude to the club, fans, and city for their support. He described his time at Manchester City as 'the best chapter' of his life and emphasised the emotional connection he and his family have with the city.
His career highlights at Manchester City include 413 matches (across all competitions) 106 goals, 118 assists in Premier League alone (second only to Ryan Giggs in all-time standings). In all, he won 16 titles, including 6 Premier League titles,
2 FA Cups, 5 EFL Cups and 1 UEFA Champions League.
His departure undoubtedly marks the end of an era for Manchester City. His influence on the team was unmatched—not just as a playmaker but as a leader who consistently delivered in crucial moments. City built its modern dominance around De Bruyne's brilliance, and replacing a player of his calibre will be a daunting task. City's long-term success will depend on how effectively it rebuilds the midfield and maintains its cohesive system.
Manchester City had previously lost vital players like Yaya Touré, Vincent Kompany, and David Silva. and every time, Pep Guardiola had managed to find some adequate replacement. Young talents like Phil Foden, Julián Álvarez, and possibly new recruits could step up and shoulder the responsibility of filling the creative void.
