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De Bruyne Won't Be Leaving Man City Says Guardiola

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne - AFP
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne - AFP
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De Bruyne Won't Be Leaving Man City Says Guardiola

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne - AFP
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne - AFP

Pep Guardiola insists Kevin De Bruyne will not leave Manchester City this season.

De Bruyne has just one year left on his current City contract and the midfielder revealed recently he has spoken with his wife Michele about his future plans.

"For Michele an exotic adventure is OK," De Bruyne said in a hint that he could end his successful spell at Premier League champions City.

UK press reports on Tuesday said City manager Guardiola had rejected any thought of the 33-year-old being allowed to walk away this season.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City's friendly against Celtic in North Carolina, Guardiola told reporters "Kevin isn't leaving".

De Bruyne returned after missing the first half of last season due to injury and helped City make history with a fourth successive Premier League title, AFP reported.

He has been with City since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015, winning 15 major trophies including six Premier League titles and one Champions League crown.

While Guardiola is adamant, his influential playmaker will stay at the Etihad Stadium this term, it remains to be seen if he can persuade the Belgian to remain in Manchester longer than that

"My eldest (child) is now eight years old and knows nothing but England. He also asks how long I will play at City. Once the time comes, we will have to deal with it in a certain way," De Bruyne said in a recent interview.

"At my age, you have to be open to everything. You talk about unbelievable amounts in what may be the end of my career. Sometimes you have to think about that.

"If I play there for two years, I will be able to earn an incredible amount of money."

Meanwhile, Guardiola claimed City would not make major changes to his squad before their Premier League season kicks off against Chelsea on August 18.

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Soccer-FIFA Targeted in European Leagues, FIFPRO'S EU Antitrust Complaint

06 January 2020, Egypt, Giza: The shadows of spectators can be seen on a FIFA banner. (dpa)
06 January 2020, Egypt, Giza: The shadows of spectators can be seen on a FIFA banner. (dpa)
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Soccer-FIFA Targeted in European Leagues, FIFPRO'S EU Antitrust Complaint

06 January 2020, Egypt, Giza: The shadows of spectators can be seen on a FIFA banner. (dpa)
06 January 2020, Egypt, Giza: The shadows of spectators can be seen on a FIFA banner. (dpa)

European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe will jointly file a complaint to EU antitrust regulators against FIFA's international match calendar, the sports organization and players union said on Tuesday, intensifying the spat with world soccer's governing body.

The move by the two bodies followed legal action by the English, French and Italian player unions against FIFA on the same issue in a Brussels commercial court last month.

The complaint to the European Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, will be filed in the coming weeks, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said, Reuters reported.

European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe said the international match calendar is now beyond saturation and has become unsustainable for national leagues as well as a risk for the health of players.

FIFA said the current calendar was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council following a comprehensive consultation, which included FIFPRO and league bodies.

"FIFA's calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football," a FIFA spokesperson said.

"Some leagues in Europe - themselves competition organisers and regulators - are acting with commercial self-interest, hypocrisy, and without consideration to everyone else in the world. Those leagues apparently prefer a calendar filled with friendlies and summer tours, often involving extensive global travel."

European Leagues and FIFPRO Europe also alleged that FIFA's decisions over the last years have repeatedly favoured its own competitions and commercial interest and neglected its responsibilities as a governing body.

"The complaint will explain that FIFA's conduct infringes EU competition law and notably constitutes an abuse of dominance: FIFA holds a dual role as both the global regulator of football and a competition organiser. This creates a conflict of interest," they said.

Last year, FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup will have 104 matches instead of the traditional 64 games due to the expanded format with 48 teams taking part.