Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has dismissed reports linking Kevin De Bruyne with a move away from the club amid speculation the Belgian midfielder may depart for Saudi Arabia.
De Bruyne, whose contract expires in 2025, said last month that he is not ruling out a move, but Guardiola believes there will be no major changes to the squad before the end of the transfer window, which closes August 30.
“Kevin is not going,” Guardiola said at a press conference at North Carolina State University on Monday ahead of their opening U.S. tour match against Celtic.
“I am delighted with the squad for many years. I don’t know what will happen in the market, if someone leaves, we will talk about that.
“But 85-95 per cent we (will) have the same squad. We’ve made an impact in the market (over the years) and every situation is different. I feel comfortable because the quality we have in the squad is difficult to replace.”
De Bruyne admitted he was open to moving away from Manchester City to finish his career and said he is tempted by the incredible wealth on offer in Saudi Arabia.
“At my age you have to be open to everything. You’re talking about incredible amounts of money in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that,” De Bruyne said last month, when asked about a potential move to Saudi Arabia.
