Kevin De Bruyne is set to play his last Manchester derby as City make the short journey to Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Belgian playmaker announced on Friday he is to leave City this summer after a glorious decade at the club in which his successes have included six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The 33-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has scored 106 goals and made 174 assists in 413 appearances for City since joining the club in 2015.
Manchester City will bid an emotional farewell to Kevin De Bruyne this summer when his contract expires, bringing an end to a glittering 10-year period at the Club ????
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 4, 2025
He could now have potentially just nine games remaining in a City shirt, starting with Sunday’s clash at arch-rivals United.
That could be increased to 10 if City beat Nottingham Forest in their FA Cup semi final, and there could be a further seven if De Bruyne participates in the Club World Cup – something which is still to be determined.
Whatever the final number is, manager Pep Guardiola expects the final months of De Bruyne’s glittering City career to be a celebration of his achievements.
Guardiola said: “Still we have nine games, hopefully 10, four at home, that still we can enjoy with our fans.
“He will get, I’m pretty sure, the love and the recognition that all of us, the fans, think that he deserves.
“We remember with a big smile the pleasure that we could share all together with our fans, how when he scored that last goal against Plymouth here, the people sang.
“People here in England, not just in this club, recognise incredibly well the players that have given something unique.”
The announcement of De Bruyne’s departure has provided the main talking point ahead of a derby that, unusually, has otherwise attracted little hype.
With City having long since surrendered their Premier League title, securing a Champions League place is now their relatively modest aim. United, meanwhile, are battling just to get into the top half.
“In the last two games, we were good,” said Guardiola, reflecting on an FA Cup triumph at Bournemouth and comfortable victory over relegation-threatened Leicester.
“Hopefully we will continue in the last eight games in the Premier League.”
