Manchester City will create a statue of 'legend' Kevin De Bruyne (34).

The British 'Daily Mail' reported on the 5th (Korean time) that "Manchester City plans something remarkable after De Bruyne announced he would leave the club after 10 years. They will honor De Bruyne with a special statue."

De Bruyne declared his farewell to Manchester City on the 4th. He announced on social media that "this season will be the last few months as a Manchester City player. It is not easy to write this, but it is a situation that every player has to face at some point. Manchester will forever be a name remembered by our family," and stated that he would leave the team as soon as his contract expires.

De Bruyne also noted, "Like it or not, it's time to say goodbye now. Manchester will remain in our hearts forever, as well as on our family's passport," and expressed gratitude by saying, "This place will always be our home. I cannot express in words the gratitude we owe to this city, the club staff, teammates, friends, and family for sharing the last 10 years of our journey together."

Finally, he stated, "Every story has an ending. But this has been the best chapter of my life. Let's enjoy the last moments together!" and vowed to give his all for the remainder of the season.

Born in 1991, De Bruyne is one of the legends in the history of the Premier League beyond Manchester City. Since donning the Manchester City jersey in 2015, he has recorded 6 Premier League (PL) titles, 1 UEFA Champions League (UCL) title, 2 FA Cup victories, and 5 Football League Cup (EFL Cup) titles alongside coach Pep Guardiola.

De Bruyne showcased his outstanding abilities last season, recording 6 goals and 18 assists in 26 matches. This is truly the performance of the Premier League's best playmaker. Consequently, there is speculation that Manchester City would offer him a contract extension as his current contract ends in the summer of 2025.

In fact, Coach Guardiola has always shown affection and trust in De Bruyne. However, time cannot be beaten. De Bruyne has increasingly spent time out due to injuries. He missed five months last season due to a hamstring injury, and he has had to miss more than 10 matches this season as well. After returning, he often started on the bench to manage his playing time.

Ultimately, De Bruyne decided to go a different route after 10 years with Manchester City. Manchester City also announced that "this summer, as De Bruyne's contract expires, they will send him an emotional farewell. He is set to conclude his dazzling career over 10 years at the club."

Coach Guardiola could not hide his disappointment. He noted, "De Bruyne's assists, goals, and vision in the final third are hard to replace. Anyone can provide assists. But thinking about how many years and matches he has done that makes it special. We have won many trophies, and De Bruyne has been a part of all of them."

Guardiola continued, "I told De Bruyne that the door will always be open for him. He is a member of this club family, and his influence goes beyond what he has done on the pitch," and reflected, "We have always had a special relationship. De Bruyne is a special person and a special player. How many moments have there been?"

De Bruyne was compared to other Manchester City legends. Guardiola stated, "It is a sad day because one of us is leaving. Just like when Vincent Kompany, Sergio Agüero, and David Silva left. But there are still 10 or 11 matches left to enjoy together with the fans," and expressed confidence, "I would bet a lot that De Bruyne's statue will be erected. It's certain."

Guardiola's confidence was not misplaced. Soon, a statue of De Bruyne is also scheduled to be erected in front of Manchester City's home ground, Etihad Stadium. Currently, statues of Kompany, Silva, Agüero, Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, and Francis Lee guard the Etihad Stadium.

The Daily Mail reported that "Manchester City plans to award De Bruyne a statue. He will receive the statue alongside former teammate Silva." In response, Manchester City fans welcomed this by saying, "There’s no need to discuss it, nor any reason for delay. It should have been made already! De Bruyne is a legend who defined an era."

Meanwhile, the leading possibility for De Bruyne's next destination is Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Last summer, he received a tremendous offer from Saudi Arabia, but he declined it due to concerns about his children's education. This time, he is expected to choose the U.S. over Saudi Arabia for a better living environment. The expansion team San Diego is reportedly interested in De Bruyne.

[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited), Football Factly, Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City social media.

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