Inside Kevin De Bruyne’s ‘bizarre’ Man City exile as Micah Richards hints at ‘rift’ with Pep Guardiola
MANCHESTER CITY and Pep Guardiola have found themselves in uncharted territory.
The reigning Premier League champions extended their winless run to seven games on Sunday with a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool.
It saw them drop to fifth in the table, 11 points behind Arne Slot‘s side.
Pundits quickly began to question what has been going on behind the scenes at City.
And one of the main focal points was Kevin De Bruyne‘s lack of involvement.
The Belgian has been one of Man City‘s most important players since joining over nine years ago.
But his match time has been severely limited this term.
De Bruyne has made just five starts for the Cityzens so far this season.
His last appearance in the starting line-up was back in September against Brentford.
The 33-year-old’s absence from the XI has sparked speculation of a potential feud with Guardiola.
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Manchester United icon Gary Neville questioned what has been going on at the club after Sunday’s match.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, he said: “There are a couple of things that are interesting.
“The De Bruyne thing is unusual, bizarre, strange. Why is probably the best player the Premier League has had in the last 10 years not out there?
“We know he’s had injuries but why is he not out there? Because he’s a leader, he’s got authority, he’s confidence and brilliance so something is definitely going on in the dressing room.
“There’s something happening but Pep Guardiola has got complete control of the club, he’s extended his contract and he’s probably just waiting for the January and [summer] transfer windows.”
Jamie Carragher echoed the claims at full-time, insisting “something isn’t right” between De Bruyne and Guardiola.
The Liverpool icon explained: “Something is going on with De Bruyne.
“For me, he has been the best player in the for the last five seasons. He isn’t starting games and doesn’t come on at half time today.
“I am not trying to cause more trouble for Manchester City but something isn’t right between those two.
“It is sad because we are talking about one of the greatest managers, and greatest players in the Premier League.
“His contract is up this summer and I know he has had a few problems but something isn’t right if he isn’t in the team when he is fit.”
England legend Gary Lineker offered his view on the potential feud in Monday’s edition of The Rest is Football podcast.
He said: “De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done.
“Yeah, he nearly got a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk’s error, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he’s been coming on for five or 10 minutes, what, for about a month now?
“You would imagine he’s getting fitter, even though I saw both of them – Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne – make interesting statements in the week, where it seems like all’s not well between those two? I don’t know. I’ve got no inside information whatsoever.”
Meanwhile, ex-Man City full-back Micah Richards insisted there must be some context behind De Bruyne’s exile from the starting line-up.
“I think you’re right,” he said. “There’s got to be some context to it… this goes back [to] before the international break.
“De Bruyne got some minutes, but after the international break, he didn’t start and then hasn’t started again. But he’s one who can unlock a door!
“We know with Kevin De Bruyne, you’ve got to wrap him in cotton wool… but a big game like this, I thought [Guardiola] was sort of saving him for this game!
“But even just the talks, [De Bruyne] potentially going to Saudi at the end of the year… it looks to me like there’s some sort of rift gong on between them.”
Richards then went on to suggest that it “doesn’t seem happy” in the City camp.
De Bruyne’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he is yet to enter negotiations for a new deal.
Last month, the midfielder insisted he is “not worried” about his future.
He said: “I honestly don’t know. At the start of the season, I knew talks would happen but then the thing [injury] happened in Brentford.
“I was hoping to be out a couple of days, and then it was eight-nine weeks. I put it all to the side.
“For the moment, I’d rather get better first and see how I am, the rest will come – I’m not too obsessed with things right now.
“I’m not too worried. I’m fine. I’m happy, I just want to play good football again and the future – we’ll see.
“Talks will come. If there’s no talks, it will be my last year, but I don’t know.
“I had a conversation in the summer, but then I had the injury so I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to speak about that. I need to be back on the pitch and be myself again.
“There’s no rush, I don’t feel uncomfortable. I’m not worried.”
Man City next face Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
Another defeat would see them drop below Forest in the table.