“Nobody will take care of me: 'Appointment of injury, De Bruyne could exclude from the World Cup Club Championship

By Canadian Press on May 18, 2025.

London (AP) – Kevin de Bruyne has chosen doubts as to whether he will play at the World Club Championship because he fears to be hurt before leaving Manchester City.

The Belgian playmaker has no contract at the end of the season and becomes a free agent.

But there is the potential that he could sign a short-term expansion that would enable him to play at the newly expanded World Cup in June and July.

“I think I have to take care of myself in a way, because when I am injured at the World Cup, what should I do?” De Bruyne said. “Nobody will take care of me at this time. So there is a great chance that I will probably not play it, but I don't know, maybe yes.”

De Bruyne will leave the city after 10 years and 14 large trophies after the Premier League Club decided not to offer it a new deal.

At the age of 33, he is now considering his options, but says that it has uncertainty whether City wants him to be part of his squad for the World Cup in the USA.

With two games this season, he said he had to think about what is best for his own career while preparing for his next step.

“I have to take care of my family. I have three children, my wife, it is not an easy process at that time,” he said.

The timing of the World Club Championship, which was expanded by seven teams to 32, has led FIFA to introduce a short-term transfer window with which players, whose contracts on June 30, have passed into clubs that take part in the tournament. In addition, players like de Bruyne can only take short -term offers before continuing as a free agent.

But that brings the risk of suffering a serious injury that would endanger future transmission.

If he doesn't play at the World Cup Club, De Bruyne City will leave Crystal Palace after the FA Cup last defeat on Saturday.

City also gave up the title of Premier League this season after winning four in a row.

“This year just didn't go as we wanted. You have to accept it. You have to continue and work hard and go again,” said de Bruyne. “It's okay. That doesn't change anything that has happened in the past 10 years.”

De Bruyne said that he doesn't have to choose his next step and whether he would try to join another Premier League team.

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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

James Robson, Associated Press

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