Pep Guardiola admitted that Manchester City cannot replace Kevin De Bruyne as the club advance plans to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.
De Bruyne’s 10-year stay at the Etihad is ending this summer, becoming the final player whose arrival pre-dates Guardiola’s reign to depart.
City have zeroed in on Wirtz, the Germany international, and will attempt to land the attacking midfielder over the coming months as Guardiola reshapes his squad in the hope of clawing back the Premier League crown.
‘The club has to move forward,’ the Spaniard said. ‘There are players who are unique, who represent what the club wants to be, and Kevin is one of them. Now it’s a shock, but people will remember how blessed they were to see this type of player, who gave us absolutely everything. You can only be grateful.
‘My period here will always have Kevin there in my memories. He cannot be forgotten.’
Guardiola — who needs victory at Old Trafford today in his battle for Champions League qualification — claimed De Bruyne might have prolonged his career at the top level longer.
Pep Guardiola highlighted that it will be ‘so difficult’ for Man City to replace Kevin De Bruyne
The Belgian maestro announced on Saturday he will leave the Etihad at the end of the season
City wish to land German midfielder Florian Wirtz this summer as De Bruyne’s replacement
The City boss believes the all-action attitude the Belgian took contributed to the hamstring woes that he has never truly recovered from. ‘He’s been injured the last year-and-a-half because he gave everything for the club,’ Guardiola added. ‘It happened because he’s given everything with his body and mind.
‘There are things that cannot be substituted. To say bye to this type of player is so difficult. I’d love Vincent (Kompany) to be here eternally, Sergio (Aguero), too, and now Kevin.
‘To say bye to these connections, these relations — for the manager, the mates, the fans — is not easy.’
