Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City interacts with manager Pep Guardiola after being substituted during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Nottingham Forest
Kevin de Bruyne and Pep Guardiola chat during Manchester City's win over Nottingham Forest
Pep Guardiola cannot have his dream Kevin De Bruyne scenario at Manchester City as he admitted the club are in a difficult position.
After joining in 2015, De Bruyne has established himself as one of the best to have ever played for City and in the Premier League. The 33-year-old continues to show an ability that few can match, as his contribution on Wednesday with a goal and assist against Nottingham Forest showed.
However, both player and club have a decision to make over his future with a contract running out at the end of he season. De Bruyne shelved talks over his future when an innocuous injury he picked up in September ended up forcing him onto the sidelines for over two months, but a solution needs to be found as City plan for the future.
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Having been blessed with the playmaker's peak years, Guardiola wishes they could do it all again. Given the enormous contribution De Bruyne has made to City's most successful period in their history, nobody at the club is under any illusion about the enormity of the task of replacing him when that day comes - whether next summer or later.
"I would like to have him 23 years old and sign a contract for the next 10 years. But we will see," he said. "There are players [for who] the impact on the legacy of this club will be eternal, will be forever. Of course it is not easy, but as a club, we have to find in the moment its going to happen, we have to find the best way."