Pep Guardiola addressed Kevin De Bruyne 'rift' claim after Man City exit confirmed

Speculation is rife about a potential falling out between Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne, which has become a significant talking point in season. The legendary midfielder

De Bruyne, , has firmly cemented his status among the Premier League's all-time greats. His trophy cabinet boasts six league titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and a Champions League title.

However, in his final season at the Etihad, the Belgian maestro's form has noticeably dipped, with recurring muscle injuries proving to be a persistent issue. Despite enjoying a largely successful relationship with - De Bruyne joined City just a year before the Spanish manager - whispers of discontent began to circulate following his brief 11-minute appearance in their 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last December.

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This marked the fourth consecutive match that De Bruyne was left out of the starting line-up after returning from injury, clocking up just 43 minutes across those games. On an episode of The Rest Is Football, Gary Lineker pondered whether a rift was beginning to form between the pair.

"The Match of the Day host questioned De Bruyne's limited game time, saying: "De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done. Yeah, he nearly got a goal because of [Virgil] van Dijk's error, but is there something going on there, do you think? Because he's been coming on for five or 10 minutes, what, for about a month now?

"De Bruyne came on again with not long to go when the game was pretty much done. You would imagine he's getting fitter, even though I saw both of them - Pep Guardiola and De Bruyne - make interesting statements in the week, where it seems like all's not well between those two? I don't know. I've got no inside information whatsoever. The ambassador of Manchester City might, though... Micah?"

Micah Richards, the ex-City veteran, concurred, highlighting the unusual situation: "I think you're right," Richards told his co-host. "There's got to be some context to it... this goes back [to] before the international break."

"De Bruyne got some minutes, but after the international break, he didn't start and then hasn't started again. But he's one who can unlock a door! We know with Kevin De Bruyne, you've got to wrap him in cotton wool... but a big game like this, I thought [Guardiola] was sort of saving him for this game!"

"But even just the talks, [De Bruyne] potentially going to Saudi at the end of the year... it looks to me like there's some sort of rift gong on between them."

Jamie Carragher and have voiced their intrigue about the dynamic between Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne, with Carragher stating: "Something is going on with De Bruyne. Something isn't right between those two."

Guardiola has clarified that no personal rift exists between him and his Belgian midfielder. Ahead of their 3-0 triumph against Nottingham Forest, he justified De Bruyne's sporadic appearances on the pitch. "People say I've got a problem with Kevin," Guardiola declared.

"Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don't want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don't want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?"

He's delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I'm desperate to have his best. But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33 years old. He needs time to find his best."