Will Man City Create a Statue to Honor De Bruyne?

Manchester, May 21 (NationPress) Manchester City is set to pay tribute to Kevin De Bruyne for his remarkable decade of commitment to the Club by commissioning a unique statue that celebrates the midfielder's illustrious career at the Etihad Stadium.

This announcement was made following Tuesday night’s pivotal Premier League match against Bournemouth, which marked the 33-year-old star's final appearance at the Etihad for the Club.

De Bruyne expressed his immense pride and gratitude for this significant recognition in the form of a statue.

"This means I will forever be a part of this club. Every time I return with family and friends, I will be able to see myself, ensuring I am always here," said De Bruyne.

After a successful 10-year tenure at City, during which he played over 400 games and contributed to the Club's tally of 19 major trophies, De Bruyne is set to depart this summer.

Throughout his decade in Manchester, besides securing six Premier League titles, the 33-year-old was awarded the Premier League Player of the Season on two occasions, in 2019/20 and 2021/22, and clinched the Playmaker award for most assists three times, in 2017/18, 2019/20, and 2022/23.

His record of 20 assists in 2019/20 is a joint-record for a season, achieved alongside Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.

After the match concluded, Kevin was also honored with a specially framed shirt signed by teammates and staff, along with a lifetime City Season Card, while a heartfelt video tribute was showcased on the Etihad's big screen.

With the commissioning of his statue, De Bruyne joins the ranks of other legendary City players who have received similar honors for their monumental contributions to the Club.

In 2021, two statues were unveiled outside the Etihad to celebrate former captain Vincent Kompany and the midfield magician David Silva, both of whom played pivotal roles in establishing City as a dominant force in football over the past decade, as stated on the Manchester City website.

This was followed in 2022 by another statue honoring Sergio Aguero, the Club’s all-time leading scorer, renowned for his dramatic 93:20 strike that clinched City’s maiden Premier League title in 2012.

City’s rich heritage was further commemorated in 2023 with a statue dedicated to the iconic trio of Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee, and Colin Bell, celebrating their combined 30 years of service to City from the 1960s.

Now, De Bruyne will have his own significant recognition immortalized in the form of a statue, honoring his remarkable contributions over the last decade.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kevin attended a ceremony at the CFA where a special mosaic honoring his substantial impact on the Club was unveiled by City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

This mosaic is the latest in a series of tributes to City legends, including Yaya Toure, Joe Hart, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Fernandinho, and Ilkay Gundogan.