Kevin De Bruyne is saying goodbye to the Etihad. After nearly a decade of brilliance, City's midfield maestro will wave farewell to fans after Tuesday's game against Bournemouth.
It wasn't supposed to end this way. De Bruyne had expected to sign another contract, but Man City had other plans. With wages close to £400,000 weekly and ongoing fitness concerns, the club made the tough decision to part ways with their Belgian genius.
"A bit of the soul of the team is going," teammate Bernardo Silva said. "It's sad."
From Reject to Royalty
Remember when pundits laughed at City spending big money on a Chelsea reject? That 'waste of money' transformed into the Premier League's finest midfielder of the modern era.
De Bruyne arrived in 2015 with something to prove. Almost a decade later, he's proven everything. The stats don't lie - he became the first City player since club legend Colin Bell to score 100 goals from midfield.
His impact goes beyond numbers. Those laser-guided crosses, the thunderous strikes from distance, the vision to spot passes nobody else could see. De Bruyne has that rare ability to make fans feel something special when watching football.
Think of those four goals against Wolves in 2022. That masterclass against Arsenal during the Treble season. The stunning free-kick at Leicester. The countless assists for Haaland's hungry runs.
The King's Court
Off the pitch, De Bruyne is famously private. Staff joke about his grumpiness, with one saying: "He's absolutely hilarious when you get to know him. The biggest challenge is getting into that inner circle."
Few have managed it. Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk and former teammate Raheem Sterling count among his close friends. His family has been central to his City story, rarely missing matches until recent developments.
His relationship with Pep Guardiola has been fascinating. Not exactly friends, but bound by mutual respect and a shared obsession with perfection. Both geniuses in their own right, occasionally clashing when strong opinions met.
The hamstring issues that sidelined him for months last season effectively sealed his fate. City couldn't justify a new deal for a player whose body was beginning to betray his brilliant mind.
For bettors, De Bruyne's departure creates interesting scenarios. City's creativity will need to come from elsewhere next season, potentially impacting both their goal output and Premier League title odds. The team that lands him could see their own odds improve significantly.
Tuesday's farewell will be emotional. A proper celebration is planned with a light show, lifetime season tickets, and signed mementos. The crown on the fan-made tifo says it all – Kevin De Bruyne isn't just leaving Manchester City, he's taking a piece of its soul with him.
Whatever comes next, his legacy is secure. The once-questioned Chelsea castoff leaves as Manchester City royalty – the undisputed King of the Etihad era.