“It doesn’t make any sense” – Kevin De Bruyne provides update on FIFA Club World Cup availability for Manchester City | OneFootball

Kevin De Bruyne has issued the first real indication as to whether he will be a part of the Manchester City squad competing at this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.

The Belgium international is due to leave the club on a free transfer in the coming weeks after a decision was made internally not to renew the player’s contract beyond its current expiry date at the end of June.

Since making the announcement of his pending exit from Manchester City, De Bruyne has been placed at the centre of widespread transfer speculation with supposed interest from clubs in Italy, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and even in England.

While Kevin De Bruyne weighs up his options alongside input from those close to him, with a decision expected to significantly take into account personal life and its suitability to a young family, there remains further question marks surrounding his exit.

The 33-year-old’s Manchester City contract is due to expire midway through the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup tournament in the United States, and many have wondered whether the midfielder would withdraw himself from availability to take care of his future prospects.

Speaking to reporters from Wembley Stadium after Manchester City’s recent FA Cup Final defeat to Crystal Palace, De Bruyne was quizzed on what the immediate future holds for him in terms of his availability for Pep Guardiola’s side this summer.

“It doesn’t make any sense [for free agents], but I think that happens when you push in new tournaments in the middle of this contract situation,” De Bruyne said of the newly-expanded and revamped tournament.

He added, “I have to take care of myself because if I get injured in the Club World Cup, what am I going to do? Nobody’s going to take care of me at that point. So there’s a big chance probably I won’t play it.”

On the subject of a decision over his next club, the 33-year-old said, “I want to finish these two games and then obviously, ultimately, afterwards make a decision, but it’s not that easy. I have to take care of my family. I’ve got three kids, my wife, it’s not an easy process at this time.”

Manchester City are lined-up to take on three fixtures at the revamped and expanded tournament so far, with a group stage schedule featuring clashes with Italy’s Juventus, Morocco’s Wydad AC, and the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain.

Pep Guardiola would ideally like to see the club bring in some new names in time for the tournament to begin, using the initial three fixtures as a bedding in process for fresh faces acclimatising to life with their new club.

One move that appears to be progressing more than any other at present is that of Tijjani Reijnders, with dialogue already established with both the player and AC Milan, and the Dutchman himself believed to be interested in the idea of an Etihad Stadium switch.