Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola broke in tears when Kevin De Bruyne knew farewell to Etihad after his last game there as a city player.
The club chose the renewal of his contract for next season, which means that the Belgian midfielder will leave the club after a decade so that he saw people like the Champions League and Six Premier League titles, and played 421 times for the club.
He missed a Sitter in his last game on the floor that he called home for so long, blazing from just a few meters, but he did not let his farewell spoil after the game.
While the lights went into the ground, De Bruyne, besides his wife Michele Lacroix and their three children – Mason, Rome and Suri – went on the field for the last time while the fans sang his name.
City players and officials gave him an honorary guard when he went to the middle circle, surrounded by fireworks and smaller lights. He stopped the blow that the fans were present while Guardiola watched.
Then he was interviewed and asked how the reception felt him, to which he answered: “Very emotional.”
Kevin De Bruyne waved goodbye to fans of Manchester City for the last time on Tuesday evening
Together with his family – including wife Michele – De Bruyne went onto the field after the victory on his side at Bournemouth
City boss Pep Guardiola was reduced to tears while he looked at the farewell presentation of Belgian in
Guardiola was then seen in tears, while De Bruyne took the time to collect his thoughts.
A number of former teammates then appeared on the large screens in the ground to send messages from Goodwill, including people like Sergio Aguero and Riyad Mahrez.
“Hello Kevin,” Aguero started. ‘Congratulations for your career, it was an honor to play with you, I wish you the very best my friend, of course you are a legend in Manchester City. And me too. See you soon. ‘
Messages from De Bruyne’s family also appeared on the screen, where the five members of the family watch and struggled to keep it together.
The will of Fernandinho and Vincent Kompany received loud cheers when they appeared on the large screens, with Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane also among those to pay tribute.
In the meantime, Guardiola continued to cry when Fans again started singing the name of the midfielder.
“Manchester is at home,” De Bruyne said as he went to the microphone again. “It is where these children were born.
“I came here with my wife to stay long. Expected not to stay here for 10 years and to do what we did as a club. We have won everything, made the city and the club bigger and now they are going to take over.
City confirmed that they will build a statue in honor of the midfielder outside the ground
A number of former teammates from De Bruyne sent messages from Goodwill, including former attacker Sergio Aguero
Former Captain Vincent Kompany received a huge cheers from the fans when he appeared on the screen
Fans sang ‘we want you to stay’, while De Bruyne went on the microphone to say goodbye
He admitted that winning was his drive and that he wanted to help push the city forward
The star added: ‘The fans have been so hospitable from the start and to have almost a complete stadium that supports me and my family means everything’
‘I want to play with creativity, passion and enjoying football. I hope everyone enjoyed it. Everyone has pushed me so hard – inside and outside the club – to be the best version of myself.
‘The boys on the screen and for me made me so much better than before. It was such an honor to play with them and I made so many friends for life. We will certainly come back soon. ‘
While De Bruyne tried to talk again, fans sang ‘We want you to stay’.
He continued: ‘You just want to do it well and win, then you want to win more and push the city. We had five or six parades – everything is to win. There are too many moments to count. It has been an absolute pleasure.
‘The fans have been so hospitable from the start and to have almost a complete stadium that supports me and my family means everything. It cannot be described and thank you very much. ‘
The club also confirmed that they will build a statue of De Bruyne outside the stadium. As that news is revealed – to a big cheers – De Bruyne said: ‘It means that I will always be part of this club and I will always represent a little bit. When I come back, I will be able to see myself. ‘
Former city star Colin Bell’s wife, Marie, and son, John, then presented De Bruyne a shirt with the name and number of De Bruyne – as well as a seasonal card for life next to other city legends. A mosaic was also presented.
He had one last chance to talk to the fans on the microphone and said: ‘I think the best way to describe my life with my wife and three children is that we fit perfectly. We understand where the club went and what it means for many people.
His teammates threw him in the air before he received an honorary guard with his exit
Almost all fans in the ground stayed for the presentation after the last home game of City of the season
City gave the departing player a mosaic to pay tribute to his decade with the side
He received an honorary guard when he came in both and left the field for the last time
‘Together we built a big future for you to perform. I know it has been a bit of a difficult year for us, but this team will be fighting back for the titles next year. They deserve this. ‘
Finally, playing on a viral video from De Bruyne who asked teammates to let him talk on the field, he said: “After 10 years it was time for someone to let me talk a little. It is time to say goodbye, I will come back, but we love you and see you soon. ‘
The ceremony ended with De Bruyne and his family on a Ereroot around the field and were thrown in the air by his teammates before he left the field to another guard of honor.
In the meantime, former city substantial michards remained impressed when he brought his own tribute to the 33-year-old. Something, according to Richards, was not entirely right.
“For many fans, the best player ever to play for Man City,” he said at Sky Sports. “I thought the fans were brilliant. And to produce players like De Bruyne and get him in the side … The club has been great for him, he was great for the club, and it was great to see the broadcast. ‘
He continued: ‘I’m just so sad. Speaking from my personal view, to make this kind of player leave for free, it just doesn’t seem right. He has so much more to offer for this football club. But they have made the decision, and it is not meant. ‘
Guardiola meanwhile told Sky Sports: ‘I have a mix of feelings. Sad. It is extremely important to all of us to share the moment with him. Everyone will have that bond with him forever and we remember how nice it has been for these 10 years. ‘
The last match of De Bruyne for the club could be in Fulham next week, with it unclear whether he will play in the club World Cup this summer.
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