Departing captain Kevin De Bruyne was “surprised” to be advised his Manchester Metropolis profession was over as he feels he can nonetheless carry out on the highest degree.
The Belgium playmaker turns 34 in June however, not like his mid-30-something rivals at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, he has not been provided the prospect to increase his 10-year profession on the Etihad.
De Bruyne believes Metropolis have erred on that entrance and feels had the membership’s season been as much as commonplace – they’re in a battle simply to safe Champions League soccer regardless of the 2-0 win at Everton – he might have been requested to remain.
“I have not had any offer the whole year, they just took a decision,” he stated.
“Clearly, I used to be a bit shocked however I simply have to just accept it. Actually I nonetheless assume I can carry out at this degree like I am exhibiting however I perceive golf equipment must make choices.
“Maybe if the team didn’t struggle and I came back like I did this year and bedded in like normal then maybe they take another decision.”
De Bruyne stated he has not made any choices about his future as he’s concentrating on the race to safe a top-five spot to increase Metropolis’s run within the Champions League right into a fifteenth successive season.
He has already been linked with strikes to Main League Soccer in the USA, but it surely seems he nonetheless has designs on taking part in on the highest degree he can for so long as he can.
“I feel like I still have a lot to give. Obviously I know I’m not 25 any more but I still feel like I can do my job,” he added.
“I’m open for anything. I have to look at the whole picture. I’m looking at sporting, family, everything together, what makes the most sense for me and my family.
“I wish to play soccer. I wish to compete. That is what I really feel so I am unable to say that I need to give up as a result of I nonetheless really feel that each time I am in coaching I need to beat the fellows.
“I feel like I’m doing really well and that’s why I’ve also played a lot lately.”
Whereas De Bruyne has not dominated out remaining within the Premier League, his last few video games really feel like a farewell tour and he was applauded off at Goodison Park, the place Metropolis received for the ninth successive – and last – time because of very late targets from Nico O’Reilly and Mateo Kovacic.
He, at the very least, appeared like one of many few gamers attempting to inject life right into a efficiency which was lifeless and missing in depth and any actual objective risk till the 84th minute.
“It’s something really rare to come out and get an applause from another team so I just want to say thank you to them. I think they appreciate the way that I play,” stated De Bruyne.
“The way Everton play is hard. Defensively they are sound and we tried to break that but it was hard.
“We had difficulties going ahead, particularly within the first half. We wanted two late targets however I believe we did alright.”