Guardiola tributes to De Bruyne

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola paid an emotional tribute to Kevin De Bruyne following the midfielder’s final home game at the Etihad Stadium, a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth. Guardiola, visibly moved, described the occasion as “a sad day” and emphasized the deep connection between De Bruyne and the club’s fans. He highlighted that the outpouring of love and respect from supporters would mean more to De Bruyne than any title or statistic .

Reflecting on De Bruyne’s exceptional abilities, Guardiola ranked him just behind Lionel Messi in terms of passing prowess, stating, “One is Messi… let me put Kevin second.” He acknowledged De Bruyne’s irreplaceable impact on the team, noting that no player could replicate the Belgian’s contributions .

De Bruyne’s decade-long tenure at Manchester City was marked by remarkable achievements: 421 appearances, 108 goals, 177 assists, and 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. In recognition of his contributions, the club announced plans to erect a statue in his honor and unveiled a mosaic and a road named after him at the City Football Academy .

During the farewell ceremony, De Bruyne expressed his gratitude, describing his time at the club as “an unbelievable ride” and referring to Manchester as “home” and “family.” Despite missing a scoring opportunity in his final match, the focus remained on celebrating his legacy and the joy he brought to fans and teammates alike .