Pep Guardiola's problem with Kevin De Bruyne – 'All is not well between them'

Gary Lineker has raised suspicions that Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and manager Pep Guardiola are currently not getting along. Despite being fit for selection, De Bruyne was left on the bench during City's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

The 33-year-old – whose contract expires at the end of the season – has suspended talks over an extension but has suggested he is happy with the decision. Guardiola, 53, said he was no longer aware of De Bruyne's plans, amid rumors his player could complete a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia next year.

Fuel was added to the rumor mill after De Bruyne played just 12 minutes at Anfield, despite his knack for getting City out of traffic jams in the past. And given the Belgian's central role in City's triumphs under Guardiola in recent years, Lineker couldn't help but think something is wrong while discussing the topic on The Rest Is Football podcast (via Mirror).

“De Bruyne came back shortly after the match finished,” said the former Tottenham and England striker. “Yeah, he almost scored a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk, but is there something going on there, in your opinion? Because he's been coming for five or ten minutes, what, about a month now?

“You would imagine he's getting fit again, although I've seen them both – Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne – make some interesting statements during the week, where it seems like all is not well between these two -there? I don't know. I don't have any inside information though… Micah?

Former City defender Micah Richards laughed at the introduction before replying: “I think you're right. There has to be some context… it goes back [to] before the international break. De Bruyne had a few minutes, but after the international break he didn't start and didn't start again. But he's someone who can open a door!

“We know that with Kevin De Bruyne you have to wrap him in cotton… but a big match like this, I thought. [Guardiola] it was kind of saving it for this game. But even just the discussions, [De Bruyne] potentially in Saudi Arabia at the end of the year… it seems to me that there is some sort of rift between them.”

Richards then questioned the omission of Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish from City's starting line-up on Sunday, suggesting the atmosphere within the squad appears tense compared to previous seasons. “It doesn’t look happy,” he noted, before adding that he felt “something’s wrong.”

“You can hide everything when you win,” added Premier League legend Alan Shearer. “But when you're not winning and when you're losing games, as is the case, then everyone watches every word that someone says, especially someone who's not playing, 'Why don't you play? Didn't he? Why did he leave it out?' did you fight?

“Anyway. We heard Kevin [discussing] his contract speaks, saying they were put on hold or whatever. I'm like you guys – I suspect there's something going on in the background…I guess there's been some fallout or disagreements. »

The missing presence of long-term absentee Rodri has clearly had an impact on the team, and one would assume that De Bruyne's leadership in midfield would become even more crucial as a result. Guardiola raised concerns that the player was not 100%, but it seems unlikely that De Bruyne would be included if he was not fully fit.

The uncertainty of his contract coinciding with the club's decline in form seems to create a perfect storm from an outsider's perspective. Guardiola is enduring his worst run of results at City, going seven games without a win, and it appears personal issues could be affecting the wider atmosphere at the club.