Pep Guardiola's issue with Kevin De Bruyne – 'All is not well between them'

Gary Lineker has raised suspicions that Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and manager Pep Guardiola are not getting along at present. Despite being fit for selection, De Bruyne was left on the bench for City’s 2-0 loss away to Liverpool on Sunday.

The 33-year-old – whose contract is up at season’s end – has paused talks about an extension but suggested he’s content with this decision. Guardiola, 53, has said he’s no more clued up about De Bruyne’s plans amid whispers his player could make a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia next year.

More fuel was added to the rumour mill after De Bruyne only played 12 minutes at Anfield, despite his knack for getting City out of jams in the past. And given the Belgian’s pivotal role in City’s triumphs under Guardiola in recent years, Lineker couldn’t help but feel something is off while discussing the subject on The Rest Is Football podcast (via the Mirror).

“De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done,” said the ex-Tottenham and England striker. “Yeah, he nearly got a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk’s error, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he’s been coming on for five or 10 minutes, what, for about a month now?

“You would imagine he’s getting fitter, even though I saw both of them – Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne – make interesting statements in the week, where it seems like all’s not well between those two? I don’t know. I’ve got no inside information whatsoever. The ambassador of Manchester City might, though… Micah?”

Ex-City defender Micah Richards chuckled at the introduction before responding: “I think you’re right. There’s got to be some context to it… this goes back [to] before the international break. De Bruyne got some minutes, but after the international break, he didn’t start and then hasn’t started again. But he’s one who can unlock a door!

“We know with Kevin De Bruyne, you’ve got to wrap him in cotton wool… but a big game like this, I thought [Guardiola] was sort of saving him for this game. But even just the talks, [De Bruyne] potentially going to Saudi at the end of the year… it looks to me like there’s some sort of rift gong on between them.”

Richards went on to question the omission of Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish from City’s starting line-up on Sunday, suggesting the atmosphere within the squad seems strained compared to previous seasons. “It doesn’t seem happy,” he noted, before adding that he feels “something is amiss”.

“You can cover anything up when you’re winning,” added Premier League legend Alan Shearer. “But when you’re not winning and when you’re losing games, as they are, then everyone’s looking into every word that someone says, particularly someone who’s not playing, ‘Why’s he not playing? Why’s he left him out? Have they had a fight?’

“Whatever it may be. We heard Kevin [discussing] his contract talks, saying they’ve been put on hold or whatever it is. I’m like you guys – I suspect there’s something going on in the background…my guess would be there’s been some of fallout or disagreement.”

The missing presence of long-term absentee Rodri has clearly impacted the team, and one would assume De Bruyne’s leadership in midfield would become even more crucial as a result. Guardiola has raised concerns about the player not being 100%, but it seems unlikely that De Bruyne would be included at all if he wasn’t fully fit.

His contract uncertainty coinciding with the club’s downturn in form appears to be creating a perfect storm from an outsider’s perspective. Guardiola is experiencing his worst run of results at City, having gone seven games without a win, and it’s hinted that personal issues may be affecting the wider atmosphere at the club.