Manchester City and the De Bruyne debacle: A farewell with consequences!

Manchester City and the De Bruyne debacle: A farewell with consequences!

Manchester City will say goodbye to Kevin De Bruyne this season, as his contract expires next summer. After a decade at the club where he won six Premier League titles, De Bruyne announced his decision to leave the team after the final game in April. His departure coincides with preparations for the final home game of the season, with City in third place going into the 38th and final matchday, which takes place next Sunday away against Fulham. The Football Association Cup was bittersweet for De Bruyne as he lost the final, which pitted Man City against Crystal Palace, despite his role as captain of the team.

Currently, Liverpool have already secured the championship with 83 points, while Arsenal are in second place with 71 points. Manchester City have 68 points and have to share Champions League qualification with Newcastle United, Chelsea and Aston Villa, who all have 66 points each. This fact makes the final game crucial as the top five clubs can secure a place in the next Champions League season.

The farewell tour for De Bruyne

De Bruyne, who is 33 years old and considered one of the best players in Premier League history, has had a reduced goalscoring rate this season. The playmaker scored 11 goals in 26 league games. He has not ruled out the possibility of moving to another Premier League club following his departure from City, indicating family considerations will play a role in his decision. There are reports of interest from Major League Soccer (MLS), while he remains cautious about a potential transfer to an English club, which he commented on with a curt "maybe."

His final two league games are expected to be Manchester City's last and he will be hoping to keep the team in the top third of the table to secure a Champions League place. However, there are concerns he may not be able to take part in the Club World Cup as injury fears could affect his final appearance.

Crystal Palace and new records

In a remarkable performance, Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner, beat Wolverhampton 4-2 in their final home game of the season. This victory not only secured FA Cup victory over Manchester City, but also set a new Premier League points record. The club scored a total of 52 points this season, surpassing the previous record of 49 points.

The Premier League season is coming to an end and while the championship is secured for Liverpool, the question remains whether Manchester City can fight for the final Champions League qualifying spot. Next week will show whether De Bruyne and Man City's ambitious plans can become reality, or whether they will end up with a disappointing end to the season.