As Manchester City landed in Saudi Arabia for the FIFA Club World Cup, fans rejoiced at Kevin De Bruyne’s return to training, but disappointment followed when he wasn’t even on the bench against Urawa Red Diamonds. Journalist Joe Bray from the Manchester Evening News clarified that De Bruyne’s absence was intentional, designed to ease him back through training rather than risking immediate game action.
Bray explained that despite De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Jeremy Doku arriving with the squad for the CWC semi-final, their presence didn’t guarantee match participation. None of them made it to the bench, aligning with the preconceived plan to keep them out of the game. This decision was reinforced by City’s late registration of three teenagers—Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho, and Micah Hamilton—implying that De Bruyne and others were never slated to play in that particular match.
Although fans might have hoped to witness De Bruyne in action during the FIFA Club World Cup, reassurance came as Bray noted that the Belgian star wasn’t far from a return. Attendee at the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, De Bruyne shared his optimistic outlook with reporters, expressing his intent to be back “close after the New Year, if everything goes well.” This statement strongly hinted at a potential comeback around the beginning of January.
While uncertainty looms over De Bruyne’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, the journalist emphasized that regardless, if Manchester City secures victory in the competition, he should be eligible to receive a medal, having been selected in the 23-man roster. So, even though De Bruyne may not have graced the pitch in the match against Urawa Reds, the City faithful can anticipate his return in the near future, potentially making a significant impact on their pursuit of silverware.
