Guardiola Confident Kevin De Bruyne Will Sign New Manchester City Deal

Kevin De Bruyne’s contract with Manchester City will not expire until the summer of 2023. But that has not stopped the club from discussing fresh terms with a view to keep the player at the club for much longer.

Recent reports suggest that the player has rejected the initial offer from the club as he is not happy with the new terms. That is said to be a stumbling block in the discussions that could lead to an impasse. But City boss Pep Guardiola believes the situation will be resolved and the player will eventually put pen to paper.

“I’m pretty sure that he will stay but at the same time we have to respect the process,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.

“I don’t know what’s going on because I didn’t speak with Txiki [Begiristain, Man City director of football] but he knows how we perceive him - not just as a football player, but as a person, how important he is for the club. But I’m not worried.

“At the end it’s his decision and hopefully it’s going to finish well.”

De Bruyne is already 29 and is set to remain at the Etihad Stadium for another two-and-a-half-years. Yet, the club is determined to extend his deal due to his importance to the team.

The Belgian has established a reputation as one of the best midfielders in the world since joining City. He joined the club from German side Wolfsburg in the summer of 2015 after a stellar performance in the Bundesliga.

He has since been a key player for the Blues and was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year last season after equaling Thierry Henry’s Premier League assist record.

With the club looking to make progress and break new grounds in the coming years, the midfielder is seen as a very important member of the team. Hence, the desire to secure his long-term future.

The emerging reports on De Bruyne’s displeasure with the new contract terms may be over the top. Some platforms even state that the player is annoyed with the offer. That may not be true after all.

It is normal for parties in a negotiation to have demands. De Bruyne has so far signed two contracts with the club. Following the initial deal, he renewed in January 2018 signing a five-year extension.

It is unlikely a player will be angry about getting improved terms when the club is under no obligation to make the offer.

The more likely scenario is that both parties will come to an agreement sometime down the road and the player will extend his stay at the club. Guardiola is ‘pretty sure’ of that.