A reporter clarifies the reason behind De Bruyne’s absence from Manchester City’s game against Urawa Reds at the FIFA Club World Cup, despite his return to training this week in Saudi Arabia.
Upon Kevin De Bruyne’s return to training, many Manchester City fans expressed joy on social media. However, despite expectations, the 32-year-old Belgian midfielder wasn’t included in the starting lineup or even listed on the bench for the match against Urawa Red Diamonds. Why wasn’t De Bruyne available for selection? Let’s delve into the details.
There’s no cause for concern regarding De Bruyne’s absence in the game. According to Joe Bray from the Manchester Evening News, the decision to exclude De Bruyne was intentional. Despite arriving with the City squad for the CWC semi-final against Urawa, Bray highlighted that this doesn’t necessarily mean their inclusion in the game.
“None of them [Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne] on the bench as expected,” Bray posted on X (previously Twitter), following the announcement of the starting lineup. The team registered three young players – Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Susoho, and Micah Hamilton – indicating that it wasn’t the plan for De Bruyne and others to play on that day.
Although De Bruyne’s absence from the FIFA Club World Cup is disappointing, his return seems imminent. During the recent Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Belgian mentioned to reporters that he aims to return “shortly after the New Year, if everything goes well.” This implies a potential comeback in early January.
Should Manchester City win the competition, De Bruyne might still receive a medal, despite not participating in the FIFA Club World Cup, as he was named in the 23-man squad.
