De Bruyne will consider der City future if two-year r European ban remains ns
Kevin De Bruyne has admitted he may have to consider his future at Manchester City if the club’s two-year Champions League ban is upheld.
City were suspended from European competition for the next two seasons by Uefa in February for “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play rules, a ruling they are taking to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The Belgium midfielder, 28, said he would have to consider leaving if the ban was upheld. The admission is likely to put a host of Europe’s top clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, on alert.
“I’m just waiting a little bit,” De Bruyne told the Het Laatse Nieuws and VTM television in Belgium. “The club has told us that they will appeal. And they are 100 per cent convinced that they are in the right. I have confidence in my club. If they are saying it’s true, then I believe them.
“We’ll wait and see what happens. Once there’s a final decision I will look at it. Two years [without Champions League football] would be long. One year is something I might be able to cope with.”
Pep Guardiola, the City manager, has vowed to see out his contract with the club, which expires in June next year, even if they lose their appeal. But De Bruyne said his own future was not linked to what Guardiola might do.
“I think Pep has said that he’ll stay until the end of next year whatever happens next,” De Bruyne said. “I think his contract is running out then. We’ll have to wait. But I’m not going to make a decision based on what he does, of course. I have already worked under other managers.”
De Bruyne has three years left on his City contract, which expires in June 2023 and is worth around £350,000 a week including bonuses. He said there had been no formal discussions about an extension.
“I don’t know what will happen. We are a bit in limbo with all what’s happening now in the world,” he said. “I still have three years left. When the season is finally finished, there might come an opportunity to look at the future. It’s not the moment to think about it right now.”
De Bruyne was the star of the show in City’s 2-1 win over Real in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Bernabeu in February. But the midfielder said he had not contemplated playing for the Spaniards, even though they are thought to be one of a series of clubs who have inquired about his services in recent years.
“That’s not the way that I’m thinking,” De Bruyne said. “I have always played the game fair when I moved clubs.
“I have never been a trouble maker. I have always waited for my moment. And treated the club with respect. If you show respect in life, you get respect back.”