Author: Amrit Santlani
Manchester City’s talisman, midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, is facing a long period of inactivity after limping off in the Premier League opener against Burnley.
The reigning champions and three-time winners beat newly promoted
Burnley 3-0
but the Belgian was only able to play for 23 minutes before being sent off due to a hamstring injury.
De Bruyne could be out for up to four months, according to City manager Pep Guardiola, who also confirmed that the club and the player are weighing up whether or not to have surgery.
“It’s a serious injury. We have to decide whether or not he needs surgery, but he’ll be out for a few months” Guardiola told reporters before the UEFA Super Cup match against Sevilla.
The 32-year-old midfielder was also injured during the Champions League final against Inter Milan in June, and Guardiola confirmed that it is the same problem that has plagued him again. De Bruyne sat out all of City’s pre-season games before coming on as a substitute in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.
Last season, the Belgian midfielder scored 10 goals and provided 31 assists, leading the Cityzens to the Premier League title, the FA Cup and their first Champions League title.
Guardiola also revealed that De Bruyne had been playing in pain for the last two months of the season, as the star also traveled to Qatar 2022 with Belgium, where Manchester United were eliminated at the group stage.
“I have to say that Kevin’s injury is a blow for us. It’s a great loss. Kevin has specific qualities that you can miss for one or two games, but over a long period, it’s very difficult for us” added the former Barcelona coach.
With Ilkay Gundogan leaving for Barça and Riyad Mahrez going to Al Ahli, City are ready to seek a transfer for West Ham United’s Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá.