Home-loving De Bruyne happy to extend City stay
MANCHESTER City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is to continue his love affair with the club after signing a two-year contract extension that ties him to the Premier League leaders until 2025.
The Belgium international, whose existing deal was due to expire in 2023, is 30 in June and now looks set to see out most of the remainder of his career at the Etihad Stadium.
De Bruyne has had a glittering spell since joining the club from Wolfsburg in 2015, winning seven major trophies, which could become 11 by the end of the season if City are successful in their hunt for the Quadruple.
But, ominously for the rest of Europe, he reckons the best is yet to come for himself and Pep Guardiola’s team.
‘I could not be happier. Since joining City in 2015, I have felt at home,’ he said. ‘I love the fans, my family are settled here in Manchester and my own game has developed really well.
‘This football club is geared for success. It offers me everything I need to maximise my performance, so signing this contract was a straightforward decision. I am playing the best football of my career and I honestly feel there is more to come.
‘Pep and I see football in the same way. Having that relationship with a manager is so important to me because our objectives are totally aligned, and we want the same things.
‘My focus now is on ensuring that we have a successful end to the current campaign. Our results and performances so far have been excellent, but we need to make sure we end the season with the silverware we deserve.’
PHIL FODEN is confident Manchester City can remain fresh enough to maintain their Quadruple challenge, despite the packed schedule it entails.
It took Foden’s last-minute goal to give City a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Foden, who had been rested by boss Pep Guardiola for the weekend win at Leicester, said: ‘It is hard sometimes, mentally and in your legs as well, after coming back from internationals. But we have a lot of players in the squad that are fresh and ready to play. The manager is rotating and so we are ready as a team and we are doing brilliantly.
‘We are fighting for everything we can and are going to fight until the end.’
Kevin De Bruyne had put City ahead but Marcos Reus appeared to have snatched a draw for the German side after Erling Haaland teed him up.
Before that Dortmund looked to have scored a deserved equaliser through Jude Bellingham, only for referee Ovidiu Hategan to give a foul against the Englishman.
Of his late winner, Foden said: ‘It was a relief. We had a lot of chances, but in the end I’m just happy to score and help the team in a crucial time.
‘But of course they are a great team. It is going to be a really interesting game in the second leg.’
Before next Wednesday’s trip to Dortmund, City host Leeds on Saturday lunchtime.
Foden added: ‘We are in every competition. We just have to think about the next one now. We have to keep focused on the next game and keep the energy levels.’